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Bolts Rue Ones That Got Away

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 21, 2007

Updated: 11/21/2007 12:14 am

BRANDON - Standings points earned early in the season are like an insurance policy. You want to know they are there when you need them in case times get tough during a potential playoff drive.

On the other hand, points given away in the opening months of the season can lead to a scenario akin to trying to secure a homeowner's policy while a hurricane is churning off the coast. Once it becomes too late, there's no way to go back and change things.

That's one of the implications of Monday's loss in Atlanta, where Tampa Bay took a two-goal lead with 9:30 left, only to have the Thrashers score twice in the final six minutes to tie the game before winning it in overtime.

And while it hasn't become a trend for the Lightning, who host the New York Rangers tonight, there have been a handful of games in which points have slipped away late.

"I know on Monday there were some questionable calls, but with six minutes left in the third period we should be good enough to hold the lead," said left wing Vinny Prospal, whose slashing call at 13:08 of the third started the chain of events that led to a two-man advantage goal that pulled Atlanta within a goal.

Of the Lightning's 10 losses this season - including the two in overtime - Tampa Bay has allowed the tying or winning goal in the final two-plus minutes in three of them. In another, the tying goal was allowed with 6:47 left in the third. Of those four games, the Lightning held the lead in the final period in three.

In Monday's loss, Tampa Bay can hardly be blamed the way it played. The Lightning didn't go into a defensive shell to protect the lead - they allowed six shots on goal, four in the final five minutes - and kept playing their system until penalties disrupted their flow.

"I liked our play in the third period, because we weren't sitting back," Lightning coach John Tortorella said. "We really didn't give them a whole bunch, until we started taking a penalty - the Vinny Prospal slashing penalty - and once from there, it went to hell."

But that doesn't mean Tampa Bay doesn't assume much of the blame for letting the game get away. Facing the worst penalty kill in the league, the Lightning failed to convert on their three power-play chances, including two in the third period. Then after the Thrashers cut the lead one goal, the Lightning didn't regain the momentum.

"What we have to do when we have a lead is to keep attacking, not sit back - not that that's what we did - but it's something we have to be conscious about," center Vinny Lecavalier said.

Tortorella said he'd like to see more attacking when Tampa Bay has the lead.

"I think one of the pitfalls we had Monday was we had two power plays in the third period and we didn't do anything with it," he said. "And really, we could've driven the stake right there with the fourth goal. So, some of the responsibility falls on us."

And just like an insurance claim, determining fault goes a long way in deciding how much of the policy is paid out.

ALL-STAR VOTING: The league released the first preliminary voting update for January's All-Star game in Atlanta.

Lecavalier, who played in his second All-Star game last season, is fifth among forwards with 28,615 votes, trailing Sidney Crosby (94,118 votes), Daniel Alfredsson (41,198), Daniel Briere (32,751) and Alex Ovechkin (30,686).

TORTS BEING INVESTIGATED: The league has begun a review of the comments Tortorella made about the officiating following Monday's loss to Atlanta.

Tortorella was critical of the way Monday's game was officiated after one penalty was called in the opening 30 minutes, but seven were called in the final 30 plus overtime. Those calls led to a 5-on-3 goal for the Thrashers late in the third and the overtime winner after a holding call on Brad Richards.

It is expected that Tortorella, who has been fined by the league in the past, will be penalized in some manner for the remarks.

Tribune reporter Carter Gaddis contributed to this report. Reporter Erik Erlendsson can be reached at (813) 259-7835 or eerlendsson@tampatrib.com.

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