Kuba's cool retort

Filip Kuba rebounds from benching and tough talk with an OT goal to end Tampa Bay's skid.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published March 21, 2007

TAMPA - It has been a difficult time for Filip Kuba.

The Lightning defenseman has tried to redefine his game after a benching March 7 in Edmonton and some stinging words from coach John Tortorella.

The bottom line, he said: "You want to prove that you belong on the team."

In that context Kuba likely felt right at home moshing in celebration with teammates at the St. Pete Times Forum after scoring the winner in a 4-3 overtime victory Tuesday over the Islanders.

Kuba's career-best 12th goal 55 seconds into extra time snapped Tampa Bay's three-game losing streak. It gave the Lightning 40 wins for the third straight season and tied the Canadiens and Red Wings with a league-best nine victories when trailing after two.

The Lightning also gained some cushion in the postseason race. Tampa Bay (40-30-4) is sixth in the East with 84 points, four ahead of the Canadiens, Hurricanes and Maple Leafs, who are tied for the eighth and final playoff spot.

"It's a good win for this time of year," Tortorella said.

Said Kuba: "It was huge."

Darn right it was.

The Lightning came off Sunday's brutal 7-1 loss to the Capitals with enough questions to stock a game show.

Could the team finally count on its goaltending? Could someone score other than Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis?

Could it get it done on home ice where Tampa Bay plays seven of its final nine but is a mediocre 19-15-1?

Yes on all counts.

Eric Perrin's 12th goal, on the power play, gave Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead in a first period in which it held a 17-4 shot advantage. Lecavalier made it 2-0 with his league-best 49th 1:50 into the second.

But the Islanders stormed back with three goals. The second, short-handed, was soft as Richard Park's wrist shot deflected in off Johan Holmqvist's blocker. Miroslav Satan gave the Islanders a 3-2 edge with 2:36 left with a wrister through a multiple screen.

But Holmqvist redeemed himself in the third with nine crucial saves and preserved a 3-3 tie forged by Jason Ward's first Lightning goal 4:21 into the period.

"We lost ourselves for a few minutes after the short-handed goal but we kept ourselves together," Tortorella said. "The key thing tonight is we didn't break apart. We stayed with it."

The Lightning hammered at goaltender Rick DiPietro, who was outstanding and made 36 saves as Tampa Bay outshot New York 40-24. But he had little chance on Kuba's goal, a re-direct off Perrin's pinpoint pass to the front of the net.

"I had my stick on the ice and he was right on it," Kuba said. "It happened so fast. In the corner of my eye it went in and the moment hit me it was a goal and a big two points."

And a big moment for Kuba, who is having his best offensive season but is being asked to play a more physical game.

Tortorella said Kuba is "coming along, but we're still looking for more."

"After that game in Edmonton I was just thinking I have to bring my game back to basics," Kuba said.

He found a great way to start.

First-1, TB, Perrin 12 (Ward, Richards), 9:20 (pp). Penalties-Meyer, NYI (holding), 8:03; Bergeron, NYI (tripping), 9:52; Kozlov, NYI (hooking), 12:00; Satan, NYI (tripping), 15:34; St. Louis, TB (high-sticking), 19:15.

Second-2, TB, Lecavalier 49 (St. Louis, Janik), 1:50. 3, NYI, Zednik 7 (Robitaille), 2:04. 4, NYI, Park 6 (Smyth, Poti), 10:13 (sh). 5, N.Y. Islanders, Satan 25 (Kozlov, Zednik), 17:24. Penalties-Sillinger, NYI (interference), 4:48; Sillinger, NYI (hooking), 10:01.

Third-6, TB, Ward 5 (Fedotenko, Boyle), 4:21. Penalty-Fedotenko, TB (high-sticking), 7:10.

Overtime-7, TB, Kuba 12 (Perrin, Richards), :55. Penalties-None. Shots-NYI 13-7-0-24. TB 17-13-9-1-40. Power-plays-NYI 0 of 2; Tampa Bay 1 of 6. Goalies-NYI, DiPietro 30-19-8 (40 shots-36 saves). TB, Holmqvist 24-14-2 (24-21). A-19,916 (19,758). T-2:22. Referees-Marc Joannette, Brad Meier. Linesmen-Andy McElman, Pierre Racicot.

Lightning 4

Islanders 3

overtime

[Last modified March 21, 2007, 05:45:01]