New-look Lightning hits ground falling

Smith, others have decent debuts, but Tampa Bay's skid hits five.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Published February 28, 2008

Jeff Halpern (11), acquired by the Lightning on Tuesday, battles Pavol Demitra during the third period. Halpern had a goal, an assist and three hits in his debut.
	[Dirk Shadd | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [Dirk Shadd | Times] New Lightning goalie Mike Smith remains down after the Wild's final goal, poked in after a shot bounced off the back boards.

TAMPA - Considering what he went through the past few days, Mike Smith held up pretty darn well.

The Lightning goaltender, acquired from the Stars in the Brad Richards deal, spent Tuesday traveling cross-country to join his new team and Wednesday preparing for his first game as the hoped-for No. 1.

No surprise, then, Smith called Wednesday night's matchup against the Wild "probably one of the harder games I've ever played, mentally."

The 3-2 loss at the St. Pete Times Forum, the fifth straight for Tampa Bay (25-31-7), didn't help.

"Everything that's gone on the last couple of days is new to me," he said, "fighting the nerves a little bit and, mentally, just wandering everywhere."

That said, if not for Smith's 24 saves, three on breakaways, two on Marian Gaborik, the outcome would have been worse. In fact, all the players acquired in the Richards deal, and one in the trade of Vinny Prospal to the Flyers, made general manager Jay Feaster look like a genius.

Center Jeff Halpern had a goal, an assist and three hits. Jussi Jokinen was around the puck and had four shots. Defenseman Alex Picard, acquired for Prospal, played 19:54, had three hits and two blocks.

"I have no problems with the guys we traded for," coach John Tortorella said.

On the other hand:

Two of Vinny Lecavalier's five giveaways led to goals. The power play without Richards at the point was 1-for-7. Lecavalier, defenseman Dan Boyle and right wing Marty St. Louis combined for five shots. And as Tortorella said, "How many breakaways did our top two defensemen (Boyle and Paul Ranger) give up?"

Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom made 31 saves, allowing only Michel Ouellet's second-period, power-play goal that made the score 2-1 and Halpern's goal 9:16 into the third that made it 3-2.

"We got the goaltending we needed," Wild center Brian Rolston said. "Backstrom really stood tall for us."

Smith did the same for the Lightning. He was big in net, moved side-to-side and handled the puck so well, he nearly faked out teammates a couple of times.

"He's unbelievable," Halpern said. "He'll be one of the top goalies in this league; top five, if not better."

Minnesota's goals were not Smith's fault. One deflected off Ranger's skate, one came with little defensive help and the one that made it 3-1 1:53 into the third period was poked in by Rolston after a shot bounced to him off the back boards.

"It's tough luck," Smith said. "The guy shoots it wide and it comes right back on me. You've just got to battle and try to get loose pucks before they do."

For the most part, he did.

[Last modified February 28, 2008, 00:56:04]