'Game-breakers'

Vinny Lecavalier, Vinny Prospal and Marty St. Louis account for all three goals.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer
Published October 5, 2007

Johan Holmqvist reaches back to prevent the puck from trickling in during the second period. He had 26 saves on the night. View photo gallery
	[Dirk Shadd | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [Dirk Shadd | Times] From left, Paul Ranger, Vinny Lecavalier and Vinny Prospal celebrate Prospal's empty-net goal that sealed the Lightning's 3-1 victory against the Devils. A few minutes earlier, Prospal's blind pass set up Lecavalier's go-ahead goal.

TAMPA - Sleep did not come easily Thursday for Vinny Lecavalier.

The Lightning's star center usually has a nice, leisurely nap the afternoon of game days. But Lecavalier said the upcoming season opener with the Devils left him tossing and turning.

"I was nervous," he said. "Maybe not nervous, but excited."

It was all smiles after Tampa Bay's 3-1 victory at the St. Pete Times Forum as Lecavalier scored twice, tying it in the second period and winning it with 3:52 left in the third.

"It's great to start that way," he said. "It was a very physical game with a lot of emotions."

And plot lines.

There was goaltending, and Johan Holmqvist made a statement by outdoing three-time Vezina Trophy winner Martin Brodeur with 26 saves, including a stop of Nicklas Bergfors from in close with one second left in the first period to preserve a 1-0 deficit.

There was the addition of rookies Mike Lundin and Matt Smaby to the team's blue line, and Lundin showed mettle in 12:39 of ice time, finishing plus-1 and even joining the offensive rush once in the third period.

Tampa Bay blocked 17 shots, led by Paul Ranger's five. And it won its fifth straight opener, the league's longest active streak, at least until the Canucks try tonight for the equalizer.

But the main story was Lecavalier and linemates Marty St. Louis and Vinny Prospal.

St. Louis had three assists. Prospal's blind, cross-slot pass set up Lecavalier's winner, and Prospal scored the empty-netter.

"The game-breakers," Lightning coach John Tortorella said, "took over."

Lecavalier, who had a league-best 52 goals last season, zipped a low wrist shot past Brodeur for the tie 9:35 into the second period.

But that was just a warmup for a play that should get serious consideration on any "best-of" highlight reel.

It began with St. Louis carrying the puck into the offensive zone then circling back toward the blue line, drawing two defenders.

St. Louis fired to Prospal down low to Brodeur's right. Prospal was covered but sent a backhand pass to Lecavalier, tape to tape and without looking.

Prospal said that can happen when players are so familiar with each other's games.

"I just felt like he was going to be there," he said. "We were three-on-three in the zone. He had to be somewhere. The good players find a way to get open, and he got open."

"I'm just happy I have the linemates I do," Lecavalier said. "They make you skate. They make you be into the game. For Vinny to see me when his back was turned, it was just a great play."

But Lecavalier still had to put the puck in the net with Brodeur scrambling to get into position.

"Sometimes, it's tough when you have an open net," Lecavalier said.

"I was a little nervous. I knew he was coming over. I shot, but I didn't really look."

"He's the best player in the league," Brodeur said. "He had a couple of quality chances, and he beared down on it."

It is a good sign for the Lightning.

Because of an undisclosed upper body injury, Lecavalier, 27, played in only one full preseason game. He said he was worried he would be rusty.

"But I felt pretty good right from the start," he said. "I was just happy to start the season. I'm more into it. I'm more emotional."

So what if he's a little sleepy.

[Last modified October 5, 2007, 01:17:50]