Bolts power play starting to pick up

No one would know it by watching Monday night's out-of-sync showing against Colorado, but the Lightning's power play has been coming to life the past couple of weeks.

Before going 0-for-7 with the man advantage in the 3-0 loss to the Avalanche, Tampa Bay had scored power-play goals in seven consecutive games and 10 of 11, going 12-for-46 (26 percent) during that span.

The Lightning had climbed from the bottom third of the NHL power-play rankings to the middle third, although they rank 20th entering tonight's game at Boston.

The difference can be traced to a change in the configuration. Coach Rich Tocchet has been using two separate units, with Marty St. Louis running the point on each.

"With two units, you've got competition," Tocchet said. "You're using 10 guys now. It just seems to me there's a little more energy."

Vinny Lecavalier has moved from the point to the half wall and plays with Alex Tanguay and Jeff Halpern on one unit. Steven Stamkos, Ryan Malone and Steve Downie play on the other.

Kurtis Foster, Andrej Meszaros and Mattias Ohlund, who returned for the Colorado game after missing seven games with an ankle injury, have played the point on the right side.

St. Louis plays on both units because "he's one of the few guys that can play a two-minute power play," Tocchet said, and Lecavalier plays the half-wall because he's more familiar with that role.

"I thought we were a little stagnant with (Lecavalier) up top," Tocchet said. "And quite frankly, we were giving up way too many chances."

Another key component is Foster, who has scored three goals in the past five games and easily has the hardest slap shot on the team.

Tocchet said Foster's shot can make defensemen think twice.

"I'd be a little nervous to block that shot, because he can break ankles," he said. "That's why we've got to use him as more of a focal point."

St. Louis, who has a team-high 12 power-play assists (and three power-play goals), said the Lightning have improved by keeping their approach simpler.

"I just think we're probably taking what they're giving us, not trying to force too much," he said. "If you're patient enough, somebody is going to commit, and it's going to open something."

The Lightning (10-7-8) face a challenge tonight in the Bruins (13-8-5), who have won five of six and are 5-for-15 on the power play in their past four games. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, has dropped three of its last four, including a 4-3 shootout loss at Dallas on Saturday.

Despite a solid 16 points in November, the Lightning are clinging to the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference nearly a third of the way through the season.