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Lightning Slow Panthers' Push

Associated Press photo

Bolts goalie Karri Ramo deflects a shot by Florida's Keith Ballard during Saturday night's game at Florida.

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON

eerlendsson@tampatrib.com

Published: March 14, 2009

Updated: 03/15/2009 12:33 am

SUNRISE - In previous seasons, late-season, in-state rivalry games between Tampa Bay and Florida offered a chance for the Lightning's neighbors to the south to play the role of spoiler.

This season, however, those roles were reversed as the Panthers are in the middle of a playoff drive, attempting to qualify for the postseason for the first time in eight seasons. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, will be golfing in April for the second consecutive season.

On their way out, the Lightning wouldn't mind serving as a road block to Florida's drive. Saturday, Tampa Bay proved a rather large speed bump, overcoming a two-goal third-period deficit to rally for a 4-3 shootout victory.

Karri Ramo, who stopped 34 shots through regulation and overtime, stopped all three shootout attempts. Steven Stamkos scored the lone shootout goal for Tampa Bay, which improved to 3-8 this season in shootouts.

"That felt really good and after that first save I was really happy," said Ramo, who finished the road trip 2-0-1 after allowing six goals in the second period to Carolina on March 7. "It's great for me personally not to sit on the bench thinking about that Carolina game and wondering what is going to happen next before the next stop."

The Panthers came out like a team clawing for a playoff spot in the first period, spending tons of time in the Lightning end and keeping Tampa Bay scrambling for extended periods of time, outshooting the Lightning 15-5.

But Florida was only able to grab a one-goal lead when Michael Frolik trailed behind the play and took a pass from David Booth. Frolik was unchecked in the slot and beat Ramo with 4:11 left.

The Panthers took a 2-0 lead late in the second on Booth's 50th career goal, coming on the power play. After Stephen Weiss split the Tampa Bay defense, he drew Ramo outside his crease. With the net open, Cory Stillman banked a backhand shot off the post but the rebound caromed right to the slot to Booth, who slid a backhand shot underneath a scrambling Ramo.

Tampa Bay answered right back, however, with just its third power-play goal this season against Florida 70 seconds later to cut the lead to 2-1. With Ville Peltonen in the penalty box for tripping, Marty St. Louis extended his scoring streak to five games when he slid a pass along the boards to former Florida defenseman Cory Murphy, who sent a quick wrist shot past the glove side of Tomas Vokoun. The goal was Murphy's fifth of the season.

Booth scored his second of the game 5:35 into the third period for a 3-1 lead, but St. Louis on a redirection from Lukas Krajicek with 6:18 left cut the deficit to one. Rookie Richard Petiot picked up his first career point on the play.

Petiot wasn't done contributing, however, as he made a spin-o-rama pass to Jeff Halpern with 3:30 left to tie it.

"I thought the first two periods the Panthers owned us and we weren't too happy with the way we were playing and we were disinterested," Lightning interim coach Rick Tocchet said. "I'm glad that we gutted it out, but the Panthers were all over us."

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

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