Other guy in trade providing a boost

Jeff Halpern keeps up his strong play with three points in a rare Lightning romp.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published March 12, 2008

TAMPA - Jeff Halpern does not hide his disappointment at being out of the playoffs. But the Lightning center, acquired from the Stars in the Brad Richards trade, is not one to mope.

In fact, Halpern is thriving in Tampa Bay's puck-possession system that plays to his scrappy, forechecking strengths.

"This is the NHL," he said. "You're always trying to be a good teammate."

That was on display during Tuesday night's 8-4 victory over the Islanders at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Halpern tied a career high with three points on a goal and two assists, and has four goals and nine points in eight games since being dealt with goaltender Mike Smith and left wing Jussi Jokinen.

"He's fit in great," center Vinny Lecavalier said. "I always hated to play against him. He's always in your face and he can score goals. He's a two-way guy. That's what's great about him."

The Lightning (27-35-8) put on quite a show to win for the second time in 12 games, snap a five-game losing streak and give coach John Tortorella his 235th NHL victory to pass the late Bob Johnson for first among U.S.-born coaches.

Tortorella was not around to enjoy it. Team spokesman Bill Wickett said he left the arena immediately after the game, a "pre-arranged" exit, to tend to a "personal matter."

Associate coach Mike Sullivan called the victory "satisfying for our players."

Tampa Bay's eight goals were a season high. It outshot New York 44-24. Lecavalier reached 36 goals and broke out of an extended slump with a hat trick. Right wing Michel Ouellet had two goals to give him 14 and seven in nine games.

Nick Tarnasky scored his career-best sixth, and Jason Ward wrapped up a four-goal third period with the last of three, following Lecavalier and Ouellet, in a team-record 42 seconds that gave the Lightning an 8-3 lead with 1:35 remaining.

"It's a great win," said Lecavalier, who had nine shots and whose seventh game-winning goal tied the team mark he holds with Marty St. Louis. "Everybody was making plays. It's good for our confidence."

Just like Halpern, who has 14 goals and 33 points for the season and is the catalyst for a line with Ouellet and Mathieu Darche that has been Tampa Bay's best.

Halpern assisted Ouellet's first goal by stripping sure-sticked Islanders goaltender Rick Di-Pietro behind the net. He poked the puck from his knees to help set up Lecavalier's first goal during a five-on-three advantage.

He scored to give Tampa Bay a 3-2 lead 9 minutes into the second period off a terrific feed from Darche.

Halpern, who also won 14 of 20 faceoffs, credited "two real good linemates" who are "winning battles and getting in on the forecheck" for aiding his transition.

"Coming to a new team, it's a challenge," he added. "You have to impress your teammates and the coaches at management. ... You get a small window of opportunity to make a first impression, and I think that's at the back of my mind.

"I felt at the trade, I had a lot of good hockey left. Unfortunately, it's going to end at the beginning of April. Hopefully, at this time next year, we'll be getting ready for a playoff drive instead of getting ready for the summer."

Lightning 2 2 4 8 Islanders 1 1 2 4

First Period-1, Tampa Bay, Ouellet 13 (Halpern, Boyle), 6:51 (pp). 2, Tampa Bay, Lecavalier 34 (St. Louis, Halpern), 12:09 (pp). 3, N.Y. Islanders, Guerin 21 (Witt, Martinek), 17:05. Penalties-Davison, NYI (tripping), 4:53; Johnson, NYI (tripping), 10:41; Martinek, NYI (tripping), 10:57; Jokinen, TB (tripping), 17:41.

Second Period-4, N.Y. Islanders, Fedotenko 16 (Hunter), 4:16. 5, Tampa Bay, Halpern 14 (Darche, Ouellet), 9:00. 6, Tampa Bay, Tarnasky 6 (MacDonald, O'Brien), 14:49. Penalties-Hunter, NYI (holding), 4:51.

Third Period-7, Tampa Bay, Lecavalier 35 (Boyle, Picard), 4:58. 8, N.Y. Islanders, Walter 1 (Comeau, Berard), 10:22 (pp). 9, Tampa Bay, Lecavalier 36 (St. Louis, Jokinen), 17:43. 10, Tampa Bay, Ouellet 14 (Darche), 18:15. 11, Tampa Bay, Ward 8, 18:25. 12, N.Y. Islanders, Comrie 21 (Guerin, DiPietro), 19:23. Penalties-Bergenheim, NYI (slashing), 3:25; St. Louis, TB, double minor (high-sticking), 4:14; Halpern, TB (holding), 10:16; Davison, NYI, major (fighting), 18:38; Tarnasky, TB, major (fighting), 18:38. Shots on Goal-N.Y. Islanders 9-7-8-24. Tampa Bay 12-15-17-44. Power-play opportunities-N.Y. Islanders 1 of 3; Tampa Bay 2 of 5. Goalies-N.Y. Islanders, DiPietro 26-26-7 (44 shots-36 saves). Tampa Bay, Ramo 5-9-2 (24-20). A-19,111 (19,758). T-2:26.

Lightning 8

Islanders 4

[Last modified March 12, 2008, 01:11:26]