Lightning, goalie left flailing

Johan Holmqvist's rare gesture of frustration typifies the night for the team with the league's worst road record.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer
Published December 19, 2007

Pascal Dupuis is congratulated by former Lightning player Eric Perrin after his short-handed goal in the third period, which gave Atlanta its 6-2 final margin.
	[Getty Images]

ADVERTISEMENT [Getty Images] Atlanta's Eric Perrin, left, battles for the puck against Lightning forward Vinny Prospal. Perrin had two assists; Prospal scored his 15th goal to surpass last season's total.

ATLANTA -- Frustration, anger, disappointment.

It all came together in one moment Tuesday night for Lightning goaltender Johan Holmqvist, who after a Thrashers' goal heaved his blocking glove into the net.

Holmqvist believed he covered the puck, and replays showed that likely was the case. But with no whistle from the referees, Slava Kozlov poked the puck from under Holmqvist's hand and into the net.

It was Atlanta's third goal of the first period in what turned into a 6-2 decision at Philips Arena, Tampa Bay's third straight loss and fifth in six games.

"I was just really upset because it was just a total wrong call," Holmqvist said. "It was a big momentum in the game. If you have 2-0 there, it's a whole different story. From my view, I had control of it. But I guess that wasn't what they were thinking."

What must the Lightning be thinking?

Holmqvist was pulled for the third time in four games, this time after allowing three goals on nine first-period shots. Considering he and Marc Denis have allowed 28 goals combined in their past six, you have to wonder if Karri Ramo soon will be called up from AHL Norfolk.

A holiday roster freeze begins midnight Thursday and doesn't end until midnight Dec.28.

But back to the game, in which the Lightning (14-17-3) fell to a league-worst 3-12-1 on the road.

Tampa Bay got zero five-on-five goals and has been outscored 79-60 in such situations. And the defense was nicked beyond minus-3 ratings for Paul Ranger and Doug Janik when Brad Lukowich left early in the second period with a shoulder injury.

"We've got to stick together," right wing Marty St. Louis said. "It's easy to pull apart when things go like that. We have to stay close and stay focused and don't lose the big picture. There's a lot of games left."

Despite the downturn, Tampa Bay, three points out of last in the East, is just eight points out of first in the Southeast.

"We're not out of anything here," coach John Tortorella said. "We just have to find a way to grind through this and keep on working and have something good happen for us."

Tortorella tried free-wheeling line substitutions.

He had Vinny Lecavalier with St. Louis and Brad Richards; Andreas Karlsson with Vinny Prospal and Mathieu Darche.

Karlsson played with Richards but also with Lecavalier, and he did his best work with Darche and Jason Ward.

Tampa Bay had 17 scoring chances. But only Ward, shorthanded, and Prospal on the power play, hit the net.

"And we gave up six," defenseman Shane O'Brien said. "It's not good enough. It's not Holmer's fault or (Denis') fault. We're a team defense and have to do a better job."

And maybe catch some breaks as Kozolv said he did when he scored for a 3-0 lead by poking the puck from under Holmqvist's blocker hand.

"I thought when I scored it would be disallowed," he said. "The goalie had the puck. I just for some reason poke-checked it. I was surprised."

It's enough to make you throw your equipment.

[Last modified December 19, 2007, 01:41:07]