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Lightning's Domination Of Leafs Continues

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON

eerlendsson@tampatrib.com

Published: March 13, 2009

Updated: 03/13/2009 12:25 am

TORONTO - Even during their best of times, the Lightning took a fair share of defeats at the hands of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

But now, as Tampa Bay sits near the cellar of the standings, Thursday's 4-1 victory against Toronto marked the first time in franchise history the Lightning have won three games in a season series and just the second time they have swept the series in Toronto.

Matt Pettinger, Marty St. Louis, Ryan Malone and Paul Szczechura scored, and Karri Ramo stopped 20 shots for the victory as Tampa Bay won its fourth straight against Toronto and fifth in the past seven meetings.

Thursday's victory keeps the Lightning - 1-0-1 since a 9-3 loss Saturday - four points ahead of the Islanders, who are last in the league.

"When you get embarrassed like Saturday, you are looking for something positive, like character," Lightning coach Rick Tocchet said.

After falling behind in the first, Pettinger tied the game on a breakaway goal. St. Louis put the Lightning ahead for good late in the second period after he one-timed a quick Steven Stamkos cross-ice pass at the side of the net for his 25th goal with 2:41 left. It marks the sixth consecutive season in which St. Louis has scored at least 25 goals.

Grabbing the lead after 40 minutes was just reward for Tampa Bay. The Lightning played a majority of the period in the Toronto end and outshot the Leafs 16-5.

Malone scored on a power play with 5:25 to play, while Szczechura scored his first goal since Dec. 23 with 2:06 left to ice the game.

CHANGING OF THE GUARD: All the changes the Lightning have undergone this season have been well documented - with 47 players, 19 defensemen and five goaltenders having been used.

To illustrate just how much changeover there has been, consider that of the 24 players Tampa Bay took to Prague, Czech Republic, to start the season, 10 are traveling with the team this week.

And of the 20 players who suited up against Toronto during Tampa Bay's first trip to the Air Canada Centre on Oct. 28, nine were on the ice for Thursday's second visit: Lukas Krajicek, Vinny Lecavalier, Malone, Adam Hall, Vinny Prospal, Pettinger, St. Louis, Evgeny Artyukhin and Stamkos.

Of the 47 players this season who have come through the revolving door, 10 have made their NHL debuts - Ty Wishart, Janne Niskala, Szczechura, Kevin Quick, Radek Smolenak, Brandon Segal, Vladimir Mihalik, Mike McKenna, Riku Helenius and Stamkos.

STILL WAITING: Since being acquired in a deal from the Boston Bruins at the trade deadline, RW Martins Karsums has failed to show he is ready to compete for a spot on the roster next season.

In four games, including Thursday, Karsums played less than 12 minutes in each of the first three before logging more than 14 minutes against the Leafs. He picked up his first career point with an assist on Pettinger's second-period goal.

"I think he's still trying to find his game, and he's the type of guy that needs to show some kind of urgency and try to impress the coaches," Tocchet said. "We're still looking for that from him. When you get traded or join a new organization, sometimes you get nervous where maybe you don't see the player yet, but we need to start seeing some of that urgency from him."

NUTS AND BOLTS: Former Lightning D Jamie Heward, who was traded to Toronto along with G Olie Kolzig in a salary dump move at the deadline, has continued his rehab with the Leafs in hope of returning this season. Kolzig remains in Tampa for the time being. He is scheduled to see Ben Shafer, who performed surgery on his left bicep, in Washington on March 28. ... An errant puck was thrown onto the ice during play in the third period, prompting a warning from the public address announcer.

Reporter Erik Erlendsson can be reached at (813) 259-7853.

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