'High marks' for Lightning

Tortorella is pleased as Denis is strong in goal and Richards scores the shootout winner at Montreal.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published December 12, 2007

Lightning goaltender Marc Denis makes a glove save during the first period. Denis shut down the Canadiens in the shootout.
	[AP photo]

ADVERTISEMENT [AP photo] The Lightning's Doug Janik is checked into the boards by Tom Kostopoulos, left, during the second period.

MONTREAL -Lightning goaltender Marc Denis said his final save Tuesday night against the Canadiens was a "roll of the dice."

Actually, he played the odds that Montreal's Saku Koivu would go to the forehand.

Koivu did, Denis went spread eagle to make a right toe save against the goal post and Tampa Bay got one of its biggest victories of the season, 3-2, in a shootout at the Bell Centre.

"We battled," Denis said, "and survived."

Tampa Bay (14-14-3) also snapped a five-game road losing streak and pushed into the background Monday's awful loss to the Maple Leafs.

"Just a good bounce-back game after getting spanked," coach John Tortorella said. "High marks to the whole club."

Brad Richards, a day after leaving the Toronto game with a left knee injury, played 30:16, scored the Lightning's only shootout goal and was on the ice for the final 1:56 of overtime to help kill Montreal's four-on-three advantage.

Vinny Lecavalier scored his 20th goal. Andre Roy scored his second. But it was Denis, with 31 saves, including three in the shootout, who was most intriguing.

Denis has played just eight games as Johan Holmqvist's backup. But after Holmqvist was yanked Monday, Denis got his second start since Nov. 1, perhaps not coincidentally in his hometown.

"It's fun to play in your hometown," he said. "I was just very happy to have the opportunity. To be able to convert it into two points is huge."

No surprise then, Denis pumped his fist and waved his arms in celebration after stopping Koivu.

"He played a great game," Richards said. "We wanted to get that one for him. He's had a hard time this season, but he cares more than anybody."

Denis stopped 10 of 11 third-period shots. Still, the Lightning gave up a 2-1 lead with 4:38 left in the third period on Tomas Plekanec's goal after a poor backhand clearing attempt by defenseman Shane O'Brien.

"I panicked," O'Brien said. "I can't throw it up the middle like that. Not a good play."

But instead of cracking, Tampa Bay gathered itself and Denis stayed focused.

The team is still the league's worst on the road at 3-11-1. But as O'Brien said, "Maybe this will be the win that gets us rolling. Maybe this puts us over the hump."

[Last modified December 12, 2007, 00:24:15]