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Lightning Defense Makes Points In Win

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By TONY FABRIZIO

afabrizio@tampatrib.com

Published: January 22, 2009

TAMPA - On a night in which neither Vinny Lecavalier nor Marty St. Louis scored, the Lightning turned to an unlikely place for offense.

Their defense.

The NHL's second-lowest scoring blue line tallied three goals, and the Lightning entered the All-Star break Wednesday night with an impressive 5-3 victory against the Buffalo Sabres.

Winning for fifth time in seven games, Tampa Bay beat Buffalo at home for the first time since March 18, 2004 - a span of eight games The Sabres had won seven of their previous nine games and had accrued an Eastern Conference-best 14 points since Jan. 1.

Interim coach Rick Tocchet, who wanted his players to "empty their tanks" with the break coming up, reiterated his belief the Lightning can make the playoffs.

"I think there's a light at the end of the tunnel," he said. "We've dug ourselves our hole that we're just trying to get out of. But if we start looking at weeks ahead at a time, we'll be in trouble."

Lecavalier and St. Louis, who had combined for 14 goals and 22 assists over the previous 12 games, didn't have a point.

The scoring came from defensemen Steve Eminger, Lukas Krajicek and Cory Murphy, along with center Jeff Halpern and right wing Steve Downie.

Murphy, claimed on waivers Monday from Florida, added a goal and an assist to the assist he tallied in Monday's 4-2 victory against Dallas. Krajicek scored his first goal since Nov. 29, 2007 - on a shot that deflected off Buffalo's Thomas Vanek, a Lightning killer who was held to one assist.

"Vinny and Marty carry this team all year, so it's important for guys to step in," Halpern said. "But even if they Lecavalier and St. Louis didn't score, I thought they tilted the ice at times for us in the game."

Tampa Bay's 28th-ranked power play went 3-for-7 and scored for only the third time this year on a 5-on-3 - with Murphy doing the honors.

Mark Recchi also had a two-point night for Tampa Bay, getting a pair of assists. Derek Roy scored twice for Buffalo.

Reporter Tony Fabrizio can be reached at (813) 259-7994.

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