Happy with W, but not giddy

The Lightning takes a shootout but players stew over another blown two-goal lead.

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

Brad Richards scores on Senators goalie Ray Emery in the shootout. The Lightning squandered a two-goal lead in the third period for the third time in 15 days.
	[Dirk Shadd | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [Dirk Shadd | Times] Tampa Bay's Vinny Prospal celebrates his shootout goal, which wound up the winner. [Dirk Shadd | Times] Lightning goalie Johan Holmqvist makes the winning save in the shootout on Ottawa forward Dany Heatley. It was the Lightning's first shootout this season.

TAMPA - An interesting role reversal took place Tuesday night at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Lightning players, after a 4-3 shootout victory over the Senators, were critical of a sketchy final two minutes of the third period in which Ottawa scored twice in 36 seconds to send the game to overtime.

Coach John Tortorella, who always instructs players to assess games, win or lose, for their underlying currents, was the bearer of glad tidings.

"I'm not talking any negatives," he said. "We won a big hockey game. Let's go there."

Really, he was right. Tampa Bay (12-13-2) had more positives than minuses while winning its second straight after six consecutive losses.

Left wing Mathieu Darche, playing on a newly formed line with center Brad Richards, scored his third goal in as many games. Center Chris Gratton scored his first goal in 21.

And defenseman Filip Kuba's goal 9:08 into the third period was a timely answer 123 seconds after Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson made the score 2-1 with the first of his two goals.

Johan Holmqvist was again solid with 26 saves and three more in the shootout the Lightning won 2-1 with Richards and Prospal hitting the net.

It also should not be overlooked that Ottawa, despite its seven-game winless streak, is No.1 in the East and was 10-2 against the Lightning the past three seasons, 5-1 at the Times Forum.

So in that sense, Kuba said, "Winning that game is big for us."

But a quick survey of players revealed palatable dissatisfaction the team allowed goals to Alfredsson with 1:57 left in the third and net-crashing Wade Redden with 1:21 remaining.

Making it worse, nailing down third-period leads has been a point of emphasis to the team since it failed to do so against the Thrashers and Hurricanes during the losing streak.

"I don't know what happened or what we did, but it is not acceptable," defenseman Shane O'Brien said. "We're lucky we have that second point for a win. It is a win, but we have to win in regulation and not even let them get into overtime."

"It is something we have to fix," Darche said.

The Senators had something to do with the comeback, too.

The team is loaded with firepower, and its quickness and relentless transition game make surges inevitable. The Senators also were able to hold the puck in the Lightning zone for extended periods.

The key for Tampa Bay is dealing with those surges; making sure, for example, puck battles are won or pucks get out of the zone.

"At that time of the game, you have to work on those details," Kuba said. "That controls the game."

What controlled the game for the Lightning was secondary scoring, as none of its regulation goals came from its star players.

"It's a big win for us," Tortorella said. "With some of the things that have gone on with our hockey club, we needed to win that one. We needed to win that game for our confidence."

As Alfredsson said, "This is pro sports. Winning is the only thing."

"It's just too bad," O'Brien said, "we didn't win in regulation. It would have been even sweeter."

Lightning 2-0-1-0--4

Senators 0-0-3-0--3

Tampa Bay wins shootout 2-1

First Period-1, Tampa Bay, Darche 4 (Hlavac), 3:43. 2, Tampa Bay, Gratton 4 (St. Louis, Lecavalier), 11:34. Penalties-Gratton, TB (hooking), 5:16; Redden, Ott (holding), 9:34; Corvo, Ott (holding), 12:18; Ottawa bench, served by McGrattan (abuse of officials), 18:01; Hlavac, TB (interference), 19:12.

Second Period-None. Penalty-Tampa Bay bench, served by Roy (too many men), 13:21.

Third Period-3, Ottawa, Alfredsson 18 (Corvo, Spezza), 7:05. 4, Tampa Bay, Kuba 3 (St. Louis, Prospal), 9:08. 5, Ottawa, Alfredsson 19 (Heatley, Schubert), 18:03. 6, Ottawa, Redden 4 (Alfredsson, Heatley), 18:39. Penalties-Lundin, TB (interference), 1:25; Kuba, TB (hooking), 6:24; Emery, Ott, served by Neil (unsportsmanlike conduct), 10:23; Neil, Ott (roughing), 13:53; Darche, TB, double minor (roughing, goalie interference), 13:53; Emery, Ott, served by Neil (slashing), 13:53.

Overtime-None. Penalty-Meszaros, Ott (hooking), 3:52.

Shootout-Ottawa 1 (Alfredsson NG, Vermette NG, Spezza G, Heatley NG). Tampa Bay 2 (Lecavalier NG, Richards G, St. Louis NG, Prospal G). Shots on Goal-Ottawa 5-12-9-3-29. Tampa Bay 9-7-8-4-28. Power-play opportunities-Ottawa 0 of 5; Tampa Bay 0 of 4. Goalies-Ottawa, Emery 2-3-2 (28 shots-25 saves). Tampa Bay, Holmqvist 12-9-2 (29-26). A-17,540 (19,758). T-2:41. Referees-Mike Hasenfratz, Ian Walsh. Linesmen-Brian Murphy, Mark Pare.

[Last modified December 5, 2007, 01:48:12]