So Close, But Bolts' Winless Streak At 5

The Lightning seem to be so close to finding the positive side of the score sheet. And yet, they are still so far away.

The Lightning is off to just the second five-game winless stretch to start the season in franchise history after Saturday's 1-0 shootout loss to Minnesota. Antti Miettinen scored the only goal in the shootout, while Niklas Backstrom stopped 32 shots and all three Bolts shooters in the shootout.

Though Tampa Bay has earned points in three consecutive games, the 0-2-3 start is the worst since beginning the 1998-99 season 0-4-1. All five setbacks through the first five games have come by one goal, and the three consecutive losses in overtime mark the first time in team history they have lost three straight in overtime.

All it means, however, is that the Lightning have zero wins two weeks into the season.

"Right now, we are playing just good enough to lose," said goaltender Mike Smith, who is credited with his seventh career shutout despite the overtime loss after stopping all 21 shots he faced through regulation and overtime.

Saturday's effort might have been the best Tampa Bay has put forth on the young season. The 21 shots on goal allowed is 15 fewer than the Lightning have allowed in a game this season, and the team also registered 30 hits. And though only 32 shots were fired on goal, Tampa Bay had 16 shots blocked by the Wild and 11 others were credited as missed shots for a total of 59 shots the Lightning attempted.

"Right now, it is frustrating," defenseman Paul Ranger said. "I thought we played a great game. We're just going to take all the positives out of this stuff and keep it rolling. I think we were working really hard for 60 minutes, and that's something we haven't done yet."

With most of the action taking place in the Minnesota end for most of the night, Smith had a relatively quiet night, but when he was called upon late in the game he came up with some tough saves.

But he was beaten by Miettinen, a former teammate in Dallas, for the first career shootout goal Smith has allowed. He had stopped the first 10 he faced, including Mikko Koivu's try on the Wild's opening chance. Smith, who was aware of his perfect record, is now 11-for-12 in shootouts.

"I knew it was coming, that's the bad thing," Smith said of Miettinen's deke to the backhand. "I played with the guy long enough, I think I should know what he's doing, but that's a great move. He wins, I lose."

Now the battle in the locker room is to block out any mounting frustration.

"We're being tested right now," Lightning coach Barry Melrose said, "and we've got to pass the test."