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Shootout Goal Saves The Night For Stamkos
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Published: September 21, 2008
PITTSBURGH - Steven Stamkos slowly glided to center ice, skidded to a stop and stared across to Pittsburgh superstar Sidney Crosby. Stamkos took one deep breath to collect himself, and it was game on as the puck dropped to the ice.
The top pick in the 2008 NHL entry draft made his debut in a Lightning jersey Saturday night in Tampa Bay's preseason-opening 5-4 shootout victory against the Penguins, which put out a roster featuring a healthy portion of the one that advanced to last year's Stanley Cup finals.
But for Stamkos, still somewhat a wide-eyed teenager in the middle of experiencing a dream come true in his first professional training camp, it was a solid if unspectacular showing as part of a Lightning lineup lacking much luster.
After committing what could have been a game-losing turnover late in the game, Stamkos ended up clinching the victory with his conversion of a shootout attempt.
"That was really good, to see that puck go in," Stamkos said. "I was skating off the ice telling Coach Barry Melrose that it was nice to be able to get one back for the team. It was a great feeling."
In an inauspicious debut, it was a blind backhand drop pass by Stamkos that led to a turnover inside the offensive blue line that proved to be his most memorable moment of the night. In the final minute of a five-minute Lightning power play, Crosby picked up the gift and raced in the opposite direction for a 2-on-1 breakaway. Crosby elected to hang onto the puck and fired a wrist shot for a shorthanded goal that gave the Penguins a 4-3 lead with 2:54 left in the third period.
"You just have to realize that these guys are the best players in the world, and some passes like that you can't get away with like you can in juniors," Stamkos said. "Guys read the play so well up here."
Brandon Bochenski scored his second goal of the game with 1:19 left to tie it, allowing Stamkos to end his first NHL game on a high note.
"I thought he was great. He made some great plays," Melrose said of Stamkos. "There were a couple of plays where he made a pass and he put it right on their tape and they just missed the shot.
"We'll talk about that drop pass, and I can guarantee you he won't do it again. And it was good that something like that happened in an exhibition game. And I just love the fact that he redeemed himself in the shootout. That was just awesome."
The Unionville, Ontario, native finished the game having logged 21 minutes, 41 minutes of ice time on 26 shifts, registering a pair of shots on goal and winning 10 of 18 faceoffs. He also was credited with a pair of giveaways and was minus-1.
"I was obviously a little nervous facing off against Sidney Crosby, but I won the draw, so I was pretty happy about that," Stamkos said. "It was really just the little things. I felt I was skating well, the physicality was not an issue, so I'll just keep working on those little things and they will get better and better each time I step on the ice."
Stamkos' first shift lasted 30 seconds while centering a line with Ryan Craig and Michel Ouellet. The 18-year-old delivered an unregistered hit on Brooks Orpik in the corner and nearly stole a puck from Pittsburgh goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury behind the net.
Reporter Erik Erlendsson can be reached at (813) 259-7835 or eerlendsson@tampatrib.com.
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