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Lightning Lose Momentum

The Associated Press

Andrej Meszaros get help from trainer Tom Mulligan after getting hit in the face with a shot.

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By TONY FABRIZIO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 4, 2009

TAMPA - That feel-good momentum the Lightning created with a three-game winning streak in late December?

It has dissipated just in time for a five-game, 11-day cross-country road trip.

Tampa Bay gave itself a quiet sendoff Saturday night at the Forum, blowing an early two-goal lead and falling to the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2.

Besides extending a new winless streak to three games, the Lightning had another defenseman injured when Andrej Meszaros took a deflected puck to the face in the second period.

Meszaros was receiving stitches below his nose after the game, and his status for today's 5 p.m. contest at Atlanta uncertain. Tampa Bay played without defensemen Lukas Krajicek, Paul Ranger and Jamie Heward on Saturday.

"It's tough, because defensemen are so important in this league," Lightning interim coach Rick Tocchet said. "I thought the kids coming up for us did a great job. It's a tough situation for us. The third period was probably our best period. We just couldn't get the goal to get us back in it."

The Lightning packed most of their highlights into the opening seven minutes, taking a 2-0 lead on only their fifth and sixth shots.

Ryan Craig, camping out at the top of the crease, scored his first goal since Nov. 10, 2007, on a tip-in as Adam Hall and Matt Pettinger picked up their second assists of the season. Moments later, Vinny Prospal scored his second goal and got his fourth point in three games when he tipped in a deflection from Vinny Lecavalier.

Craig said the satisfaction of scoring was spoiled by not getting the victory after taking a 2-0 lead.

"It's tough to be up 2-0 after playing so well the first 10 minutes and not finding a way to get it done," he said.

The Hurricanes, who are 8-4-3 since firing Coach Peter Laviolette and bringing back Paul Maurice, fought back with a couple of quick goals late in the period, getting tip-ins from Justin Williams on a power play and Chad LaRose at even strength.

Defenseman Joni Pitkanen's slap-shot goal with 13:39 remaining in the second period stood up as the winner.

"Somehow we have to block that shot," Marty St. Louis said. "We've got to make it harder on defensemen who take shots from the point. They've got to miss the net."

Tampa Bay's power play, which Tocchet called "God awful" earlier in the day, went 0-for-3 and is mired in a 5-for-59 funk.

Goalie Mike Smith, who surrendered a career-high seven goals in Thursday's 7-4 loss to Washington, stopped 25 of 28 shots. He has started nine consecutive games (3-4-2), and Tocchet indicated he might give Karri Ramo the start today against Atlanta.

After Atlanta, the Lightning travel to Phoenix, Anaheim, Los Angeles and San Jose.

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