Winner highlight of Boyle's big night

The Lightning defenseman displays the best of his all-around game in OT.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Published March 1, 2008

Lightning goalie Mike Smith makes a glove save in the first period, one of his 23 in the game. He earned his first win in his second game for Tampa Bay since arriving in a trade from Dallas.
	[Douglas R. Clifford | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [Douglas R. Clifford | Times] Dan Boyle, right, celebrates his winning goal with wing Marty St. Louis. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times] Lightning defenseman Doug Janik, left, tussles with center Kris Newbury in the second.

TAMPA - Even for a player who has accomplished as much as Dan Boyle, a winning goal is still pretty special.

"Always nice," he said.

Even so, there was the Lightning defenseman Friday night, sitting at his locker after his overtime goal gave Tampa Bay a 3-2 victory over the Maple Leafs at the St. Pete Times Forum, talking about ... defense.

"It was a different game for me," Boyle said. "I had the (Mats) Sundin matchup all night, so I concentrated a little more on defense. I've got to do what I've got to do to help this team win."

Boyle did a bit of everything.

His two assists gave him a three-point night, he played 30:07, and his fourth goal snapped Tampa Bay's five-game losing streak and three-game home losing streak.

It also gave coach John Tortorella his 234th victory, tying the late Bob Johnson for most by a U.S.-born coach.

"He played on both sides of the puck," Tortorella said of Boyle. "He's a guy who we're going to have to count on when we start trying to be more competitive here as we go through. He's that important."

There were other notables for Tampa Bay (26-31-7):

Right wing Michel Ouellet scored his 10th goal and third in as many games. Defenseman Alex Picard scored his first, and defenseman Doug Janik's TKO of Kris Newbury 8:57 into the second period sparked his teammates, who outshot Toronto 12-2 in the period after the bout.

All three goals came on the power play, too, a nice turnaround after Wednesday's 1-for-7 performance.

Still, the Lightning was outshot 15-6 in the third period and let a 2-0 lead slip away.

Alex Steen scored 27 seconds in when he swept around the net and had a shooting lane after goaltender Mike Smith fell trying to go left to right. Jason Blake scored with 8:31 left after he sneaked between Picard and fellow defensemen Shane O'Brien.

"We just find ways to let teams in," Boyle said. "We need to play better, but it was important to get that winning feeling back in this locker room."

It was important for Boyle, too.

The Ottawa native on Monday signed a six-year, $40-million contract but has played just 19 games because of two left wrist surgeries. He has struggled recently with just two shots in his previous two games.

"He's been fighting it," Tortorella said. "But his goal will help him and his confidence. ... He's missed a lot of hockey and there's still some rust on him."

Not too much, though.

"After watching him, you know why they wanted him here," said Smith, who made 23 saves for his first Lightning win. "His poise with the puck and vision of the ice, and he's out there a ton. That's not easy to do when teams are running and gunning."

It was like slow motion for Boyle on the winner, 2:02 into OT. With former Lightning defenseman Pavel Kubina in the penalty box for holding a stick, Boyle's first shot was blocked. But his rebound shot beat goalie Vesa Toskala high.

"We need to start building something, a foundation, some confidence," Boyle said of the Lightning.

On offense and defense.

[Last modified March 1, 2008, 00:54:09]