One point propels Lightning into first

But you wouldn't know it after Florida ties it in the third and wins it in overtime.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published February 18, 2007

SUNRISE - There was no celebrating in the Lightning locker room Saturday night. That's what happens when you play a game you want to forget.

Tampa Bay had just moved into first place in the Southeast Division. But doing it with a point gained from a regulation tie in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Panthers at BankAtlantic Center was no reason for a party.

"It was a horse---- game," defenseman Cory Sarich said, "too many mistakes."

"You can't give up five goals," center Brad Richards said. "We're a better team than that."

Nathan Horton's goal 29 seconds into the extra period was the winner, and Tampa Bay lost in overtime for the first time since Nov. 4 to the Bruins.

The Lightning (33-24-3) has 69 points, same as Atlanta (30-22-9), but gets the nod because it has played one fewer game.

It is difficult to criticize a team that is 14-3-1 in its past 18 games and made up 16 points on the Thrashers since Jan. 1.

And you have to admire the way Tampa Bay with three first-period goals overcame the 2-0 advantage Florida built in the first 4:02. But the Lightning lost a third-period lead and did much wrong while losing a three-game winning streak and scuffling for a third straight game.

As coach John Tortorella said, "We lose a point because we beat ourselves."

Especially in the third period: "We turned the puck over, people reaching. It was just a fiasco as far as mistakes," he said.

The Lightning was outshot 9-3 in the third and 30-20 overall.

There were consecutive third-period penalties by defensemen Filip Kuba and Doug Janik for slashing and hooking, respectively, and Janik was in the penalty box when Ville Peltonen scored to make it 4-4 with 8:32 left.

There was the weak clearing attempt by Sarich leading to Ruslan Salei's power-play goal 1:47 into the game. Stephen Weiss scored at 4:02 on a breakaway after defenseman Dan Boyle fell.

Goaltender Johan Holmqvist was not sharp.

"We have to realize we're not at the top of our game right now," Richards said.

There was some good.

Marty St. Louis scored twice in the first period and has 35 goals. Eric Perrin also scored in a period in which Tampa Bay got three in 10:17. Boyle's 13th gave Tampa Bay a 4-3 lead with 8:49 left in the second.

Vinny Lecavalier's two assists gave him 80 points, two more than his previous career best.

The team also has picked up five points in its past three games despite stubbing its toes in each.

"We're in a situation where we haven't been hurt by it, so we're in a situation where we can learn from it," Richards said.

"We're in first place. We got a point. But we've seen (games) come close enough. We have to get better."

First Period-1, Florida, Salei 6, 1:47 (pp). 2, Florida, Weiss 12 (Horton, Gelinas), 4:02. 3, Tampa Bay, St. Louis 34 (Prospal, Lecavalier), 6:09. 4, Tampa Bay, Perrin 10 (Richards), 11:03. 5, Tampa Bay, St. Louis 35 (Boyle, Lecavalier), 16:28. Penalties-Ranger, TB (delay of game), :15; Kuba, TB (holding), 12:54.

Second Period-6, Florida, Allen 2 (Weiss, Gelinas), 6:48. 7, Tampa Bay, Boyle 13 (Perrin, Prospal), 11:11 (pp). Penalties-Tarnasky, TB, major (fighting), 7:48; Montador, Fla, major (fighting), 7:48; Florida bench, served by Gelinas (too many men), 9:30; Semenov, Fla (hooking), 12:00; Semenov, Fla, major (fighting), 16:26; Roy, TB, minor-major (fighting, cross-checking), 16:26.

Third Period-8, Florida, Peltonen 10 (Jokinen, Montador), 11:28 (pp). Penalties-Kuba, TB (slashing), 8:59; Janik, TB (hooking), 11:06; Horton, Fla (slashing), 16:34; Kuba, TB (slashing), 16:34.

Overtime-9, Florida, Horton 19 (Bouwmeester, Weiss), :29. Penalties-None. Shots on Goal-Tampa Bay 9-8-3-0-20. Florida 7-12-9-2-30. Power-play opportunities-Tampa Bay 1 of 2; Florida 2 of 5. Goalies-Tampa Bay, Holmqvist 21-11-1 (30 shots-25 saves). Florida, Belfour 16-13-6 (20-16). A-17,813 (19,250). T-2:24. Referees-Dan O'Halloran, Kelly Sutherland. Linesmen-Thor Nelson, Anthony Sericolo.

Panthers5

Lightning4

Overtime

[Last modified February 18, 2007, 01:11:55]