Irksome Lightning endures a relapse

Missed opportunities, inconsistent defense and shaky goaltending contribute to a loss

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published January 3, 2007

MONTREAL - Hindsight is so easy. Just ask Vinny Lecavalier.

The Lightning center knew he should have shot glove side on his third-period breakaway against Canadiens goaltender Cristobal Huet. Instead, Lecavalier shot to the blocker side and was stopped.

In a 5-2 loss in front of 21,273 screaming fans at the Bell Centre, the moment might seem small. But considering Huet's right-leg save preserved a 2-2 tie that prefaced a three-goal uprising, the ramifications were huge.

"We were in great position," Lecavalier said. "We just didn't convert our chances."

And so it goes for Tampa Bay (18-20-2).

The team had won four of its previous six and on Saturday embarrassed Montreal in a 3-1 victory.

That the Lightning fell back into its two steps forward, two steps back malaise left players shaking their heads.

"It's frustrating, very frustrating," center Brad Richards said. "I'm as much at a loss for words as anybody. I don't have the answer."

There was good stuff such as defenseman Doug Janik's first NHL goal that gave Tampa Bay a 1-0 first-period lead. And defenseman Filip Kuba's goal with 3:45 left in the second that tied the score at 2, 31 seconds after Montreal took the lead.

But there was plenty of detritus.

Wings Vinny Prospal and Ruslan Fedotenko, both minus-2, were benched for big chunks of the second and third periods.

Defensemen Cory Sarich and Luke Richardson were out of position on Tomas Plekanec's second goal of the game that broke the tie 6:01 into the third period.

Goaltender Johan Holmqvist, who otherwise played solidly, was shaky on that goal. He looked awkward on Michael Ryder's tip-in that made the score 4-2 with 6:08 left as the puck rolled up the goalie's stick, jumped over him and dropped into the net.

Holmqvist said he should have had both goals. But defenseman Nolan Pratt said Holmqvist was too hard on himself as the screen Pratt created when he failed to block Francis Bouillon's point shot was the problem on Ryder's goal.

"I don't blame Holmer at all," said Pratt, who needed seven stitches in his chin when hit by a flying puck. "When you go out there to block a shot, you have to block it. When you don't, you see the result. I don't block it, and it's in the net."

It is admirable players take the blame. But really, the repetition of mistakes has to be getting old.

"We have to keep attacking the problem and some of the mistakes we make and get better as a club," coach John Tortorella said. "It comes down to big plays at key times, good and bad. That's how you win hockey games."

The Lightning won Saturday by keeping the puck in Montreal's zone, pressuring its defensemen and getting pucks on net while gaining a 41-13 shot advantage. Tampa Bay did none of that consistently Tuesday.

And Lecavalier, who was minus-3, missed a breakaway.

"I thought I would surprise him by going to the blocker side," Lecavalier said of Huet. "He made a pretty good save, but I wish I had gone top glove. It's easy to say now."

First Period-1, Tampa Bay, Janik 1 (Taylor, Roy), 9:18. 2, Montreal, Plekanec 4 (Kovalev, Bouillon), 17:53. Penalties-Higgins, Mon (hooking), 11:46; Latendresse, Mon (interference), 18:44.

Second Period-3, Montreal, Kovalev 10 (Koivu, Souray), 15:44 (pp). 4, Tampa Bay, Kuba 7 (St. Louis, Richards), 16:15. Penalties-Souray, Mon (hooking), 2:13; Lecavalier, TB (tripping), 14:37; Janik, TB (holding), 17:28.

Third Period-5, Montreal, Plekanec 5 (Kovalev, Samsonov), 6:01. 6, Montreal, Ryder 11 (Bouillon, Koivu), 13:52. 7, Montreal, Higgins 12 (Johnson, Bonk), 19:41 (en). Penalty-Fedotenko, TB (tripping), 15:52. Shots on Goal-Tampa Bay 3-10-10-23. Montreal 7-14-6-27. Power-play opportunities-Tampa Bay 0 of 3; Montreal 1 of 3. Goalies-Tampa Bay, Holmqvist 10-9-0 (26 shots-22 saves). Montreal, Huet 16-6-3 (23-21). A-21,273 (21,273). T-2:21. Referees-Greg Kimmerly, Don Van Massenhoven. Linesmen-David Brisebois, Pat Dapuzzo.

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[Last modified January 3, 2007, 01:20:51]