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© St. Petersburg Times, published September 30, 2001
SUNRISE -- A slow start and a fast finish equaled a fine way for the Lightning to end its preseason.
Trailing by three midway through the second period, Tampa Bay rallied to earn a tie at 3 with the Panthers on Saturday night before an announced 13,106 at National Car Rental Center.
Fredrik Modin's power-play goal 13:27 into the third period off a pass from Matthew Barnaby capped the comeback.
"The power play came through tonight and we found a way," coach John Tortorella said. "It was a good way to end the exhibition season. ... But I always have to say, the real stuff starts Friday (when the season opens)."
The Lightning (2-1-2) got the man advantage at 9:36 when Bill Lindsey was given a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for an elbow to Kristian Kudroc's nose.
Now the catch. Tampa Bay could not cash in on 3:34 of power-play time in overtime, including 26 seconds of five-on-three, though Cory Sarich hit the post.
Martin St. Louis had a goal and an assist, and goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin made 26 saves as Tampa Bay outshot the Panthers 33-29.
It also was a nice debut for Glen Metropolit, who had a goal and an assist in his first game for the Lightning after being claimed Friday in the waiver draft.
The Panthers (2-4-1) opened the scoring 12:22 into the first when Valeri Bure got separation in the slot from Barnaby and put home the rebound of Kristian Huselius' shot for his first preseason goal. Barnaby was so mad he smashed his stick on the crossbar.
Florida made it 2-0 on the power play at 16:03 thanks to a bad bounce. Bure's shot from the slot deflected off Modin right to Marcus Nilson, who didn't miss from just to Khabibulin's right.
Florida goaltender Roberto Luongo earned his pay with excellent saves on Vinny Prospal and Metropolit.
It was 3-0 on Viktor Kozlov's wrist shot at 8:11 of the second period. But the Lightning inched back at 11:16 on Metropolit's redirection of St. Louis' pass.
Metropolit returned the favor at 6:24 of the third, getting the second assist after Modin as St. Louis cut the deficit to 3-2.
"The good thing about this is that we know if we keep fighting we can come back even in just one period and turn the game around," Modin said.
CUTS: Tortorella plans to make final roster trims today. He said whether the 26-man roster will be cut to 22 or 23 is under consideration.
NEW START: Metropolit isn't sure why things didn't work out with the Capitals.
He had 25 points in 45 games over two seasons but said he would be called up from the minors, play a game or two and then sit for eight or nine. "This gives me new life," Metropolit said of joining the Lightning.
General manager Rick Dudley has said he expects Metropolit, who will wear No. 14 and can play any forward position, to make the team. He took the place of the injured Brad Richards between Modin and St. Louis, though Tortorella said he does not know where Metropolit ultimately will fit in.
WATCH YOUR STEP: If you go into the Lightning locker room at the Ice Palace, don't step on the team logo in the center of the carpet unless you are willing to pay a fine. The players have decreed: No one steps on the logo. "Any team you play for, the jersey doesn't touch the floor, and it's the same for the logo," Barnaby said. "It's not the name on the back of your jersey, it's the logo on the front you play for."
ODDS AND ENDS: Defenseman Nolan Pratt left in the first period after taking a slap shot off his right foot. X-rays were negative. ... Richards, Grant Ledyard, Tim Taylor, Dave Andreychuk and Jassen Cullimore did not make the trip for the Lightning. ... Tough guy Peter Worrell, Pavel Bure and former Lightning forward Ryan Johnson were scratched for the Panthers.