Lecavalier shines as Lightning ends skid

The NHL points leader scores twice in the first and avoids a serious injury in the second.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer
Published December 2, 2007

TAMPA - For about 30 seconds early in Saturday's second period, Lightning fans held their breath.

Vinny Lecavalier was down after taking a deflected puck off the cheek bone under his right eye.

The league's points leader didn't go down easily, either, as he grabbed his face, crumbled to the ice and slid into the boards in front of the Tampa Bay bench.

"It hurt," Lecavalier said later. "I never took a puck off the face that hard."

The final diagnosis, a large but simple, multicolored bruise, was part of a night of good news for Tampa Bay, which earned a 4-1 victory over the Bruins to snap a six-game losing streak and Boston's four-game winning streak at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Lecavalier led the way.

The center's two goals gave him 18 this season and 251 for his career.

His assist on Marty St. Louis' goal that finished the scoring gave him 300.

Wing Mathieu Darche scored a huge tip-in goal with 58.6 seconds left in the second period, 74 seconds after the Bruins closed to 2-1. And goaltender Johan Holmqvist broke a five-game losing streak with a solid 28 saves.

There also was a little window dressing as coach John Tortorella, a Boston native, tied the late Herb Brooks for third among U.S.-born coaches with 219 victories.

But it was Lecavalier's effort that drew the most praise while the quickly growing welt on his face drew relieved grins.

"He had a good little golf ball there," wing Jason Ward said. "He's a character player. It didn't even faze him."

"He was fine, a little bruise," Darche said. "He's a tough guy."

He also was motivated. For the first time this season, Lecavalier was coming off consecutive games without a point. With Tampa Bay (11-13-2) looking for something, anything to put it back on track, Lecavalier said he felt a responsibility.

"Any offensive guy has to pressure themselves to produce," he said. "That's what I'm here for. It was a big game for us.

"If I don't produce, I'm not doing my job."

Lecavalier, who had a game-high seven shots, gave Tampa Bay the lead 5:45 into the game after anticipating and stealing a pass from Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara deep in the Boston zone.

He made it 2-0 with 4:07 left in the period with a blazing one-timer during a five-on-three power play.

"He's the best player in the game right now, that's for sure," Bruins center Marc Savard said. "He's proven it on most nights."

Add some stout defensive play in the neutral zone and at the blue line and an efficient perimeter that kept most of the Bruins' shots from outside, and you have a good example of how the Lightning knows it can play.

Still, the lasting images will be a silent Times Forum crowd waiting for Lecavalier to stand up.

And the crowd's groan when Lecavalier, his welt clearly visible and raging, was shown on the scoreboard.

"We know what he's about," Tortorella said.

"Unless it's a real serious thing, he'll be there. He's never a guy that gets in a prima donna-type mode. I'm not concerned about him, and it doesn't surprise anybody on the bench."

[Last modified December 2, 2007, 00:03:18]