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Melrose Wins 1st As Lightning Coach, 3-2 In OT Over Atlanta

Tribune photo by CHRIS URSO

Tampa Bay Lightning Gary Roberts tangles with Atlanta's Bryan Little as Tampa's Jussi Jokinen, right, watches.

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 22, 2008

TAMPA - That first win of the season seemed as elusive for Lightning coach Barry Melrose as a pig he used to chase around while growing up on the family farm back in Kelvington, Saskatchewan.

But on Tuesday, that victory finally arrived in the form of a 3-2 win against Atlanta on captain Vinny Lecavalier's goal 1:41 into overtime. And it couldn't have come at a better time for a team that blew a two-goal lead in the third period for the second time in the young season and started the season without a win in its first five games.

It was Tampa Bay's fourth consecutive overtime game - tied for most in franchise history - and the sixth consecutive game on the season to be decided by a goal.

"It's the old saying, what comes first, success or confidence?" said Melrose, who earned his first NHL victory since April 6, 1995. "The last couple of minutes not a lot of guys wanted the puck, so we gotta change that culture. Guys have to want the puck and have to be aggressive. And you have to battle when the game is on the line and that's why this could be a very pivotal game for us."

It was nearly pivotal for the wrong reasons as the Lightning averted going winless in six consecutive games to start the season for the first time in franchise history. And the team has its share of curious on-lookers wondering if the sociological experiment co-owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie have put together will get on track or wind up being a train wreck.

"There's a lot of people hoping that Oren and Lenny fail and there's a lot of people hoping that what they did over the summer proves unwise," Melrose said. "So there are a lot of people watching Tampa Bay; some people are cheering for us and some are hoping we fail."

For one night, at least, it was a success. Even after a 2-0 lead built on goals by Mark Recchi and Vinny Prospal was erased in a third period in which Atlanta outshot the Lightning 15-8 and tied the score with 35.5 seconds left when Bryan Little deflected a Mathieu Schneider shot from the right point. But while on the power play in overtime, Paul Ranger won a battle for the puck, fed Marty St. Louis, who found Lecavalier in the slot for a quick one-timer for the game winner.

"Hopefully this will get the monkey off everyone's back," said goaltender Mike Smith, who finished with 31 saves.

Reporter Erik Erlendsson can be reached at (813) 259-7835.

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