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Players Show Fight In Victory

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 1, 2008

TAMPA - The Lightning showed early Thursday that if they are going to go down this season, they are going to go down fighting.

The 4-3 victory against the Canucks was, perhaps, Tampa Bay's most physical effort of the year. In the second period alone, the Lightning recorded 18 hits - after a bit of first-intermission prodding by resident heavyweight Andre Roy.

But Lightning C Vinny Lecavalier didn't need Roy's encouragement early in the first period, when he dropped his gloves and tangled with Vancouver's Alexandre Burrows.
Lecavalier said Burrows gave him a shove to ignite the fisticuffs.

"That's where Lecavalier is one of the more unique superstars in this game, is that he takes care of his own business there," said Lightning coach John Tortorella. "We don't want to see him do it again. It's not a great tradeoff for us, but I thought it sparked our team."

Four Lightning players received fighting majors: Lecavalier, Roy (naturally), Nick Tarnasky and Shane O'Brien. Chris Gratton was called for a roughing double-minor in connection with O'Brien's fighting major.

"They were obviously trying to get under our skin right from the start," said Lightning C Brad Richards. "And we had to answer."

TRIPLE-A LINE: Three alternate captains, all on the same line. It's not that often that Lecavalier, Richards and Marty St. Louis skate together during five-on-five situations, but Tortorella went with them and defensemen Dan Boyle and Paul Ranger as a five-man unit for most of Thursday's game against the Canucks.

It seemed to work. Richards had a goal and two assists, St. Louis had three assists and Lecavalier scored his 31st goal.

Just as key to their production, in Tortorella's opinion, was the way the new second line of Jan Hlavac, Vinny Prospal and Michel Ouellet clicked. Their physical play as a unit made them a viable second line, if only for one night.

"If Vinny Prospal and Hlavac and Ouellet can play another game like they played tonight," Tortorella said, "you know you can keep things like that. It's something we want to try, and I think it will help Richards get going, and I'd like to try to keep it."

NUTS AND BOLTS: Prospal scored his 100th goal in a Lightning uniform. He's the sixth Lightning player to reach the century mark, following Lecavalier (264), St. Louis (198), Richards (148), Fredrik Modin (145) and Brian Bradley (111). ... The Lightning improved to 2-4-0 against Western Conference teams. ... Tampa Bay G Karri Ramo earned his second victory since winning his first NHL start on Dec. 20. ... D Doug Janik and LW Mathieu Darche were scratched. ... The three assists for St. Louis tied his season high (third time). ... Scouts or executives from Phoenix, Ottawa, Philadelphia, Columbus, Anaheim and Chicago attended the game. The trade deadline is Feb. 26 at 3 p.m.

Carter Gaddis

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