Vinny Working Toward Earning More Ice Time

Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier wants more ice time. His play on Tuesday in a 3-2 victory against the Maple Leafs may just lead to that.

After being over the 19-minute mark in each of the first five games this season, he has dropped back to under that mark in the past three, including a season-low 16:38 on Saturday against San Jose and 17:49 against Toronto.

But on Tuesday, the captain scored twice, including the game-winner on the power play in the second period. His first goal came on a breakaway following a long cross-ice pass from Vinny Prospal that sprung Lecavalier and allowed him to put on a sick move in which he let the puck trail behind him and tapped it behind Vesa Toskala with a backhand.

"I think you get used to playing 23 minutes, and then start playing 17 you feel like it's tough to get into the game, at least that's what I find," Lecavalier said. "I wish I played a couple of more minutes maybe, but we'll see in the future. Right now we got the win, so that's the most important thing."

Lecavalier hasn't played much on the penalty kill this season, which has contributed to his reduction in ice time, but Lightning coach Barry Melrose might be looking for a little bit more.

"It's the old saying, where a player says I got to have more ice time to play and the coach says you have to play better to get more ice time," Melrose said. "Tonight the top line played better and got more ice time, it's a simple equation. We don't have Vinny playing 25 minutes a night like last year. I would like to get all of those 21 or 22 minutes so they have something left in the third period.

"But they played hard tonight, that's all I want out of those guys."

Craig, Vrbata Skate

Injured forwards Ryan Craig and Radim Vrbata continue to practice with the team. Craig has been out since suffering a groin strain on Oct. 8, and after a setback last week, said Tuesday that he is "very close" to being ready to play. Vrbata suffered a groin injury last week and practice on Monday, but left the ice early before going through a full workout on Tuesday.

Pettinger Debuts

LW Matt Pettinger, who was picked up on re-entry waivers from Vancouver last week, made his first appearance with the Lightning on Tuesday. After practicing on Lecavalier's line on Monday, Pettinger played with Chris Gratton and Gary Roberts against Toronto. Pettinger finished with 10:05 of ice time, one shot on goal and two hits.

Erik Erlendsson