Bolts' scorers seeking return to form

On paper, the Lightning possess an arsenal of offensive talent capable of lighting lamps inside NHL arenas.

Tampa Bay can challenge its opposition with a former Rocket Richard Trophy winner (Vinny Lecavalier, 52 goals in 2006-07), a former Art Ross Trophy winner (Marty St. Louis, scoring leader 2004), a five-time 20-goal scorer (Alex Tanguay), a four-time 20-goal scorer (Ryan Malone) and a rising star capable of scoring 30 or more this season (Steven Stamkos).

On the ice, however, what should be a dominant two-line team continues to be a two-man production.

Of the team's top five offensive threats, Stamkos and Malone have combined to score 32 goals; Lecavalier, St. Louis and Tanguay have combined to score 14.

In the past four games, only Stamkos (two goals) has provided scoring from the top five forwards. Paul Szczechura, Jeff Halpern and Kurtis Foster have each scored twice with Steven Downie chipping in one goal. The Lightning's record during that stretch is 1-2-1.

"This is a result-oriented business, and when we were winning games (it was) with certain guys scoring and getting really good goaltending. Then what happens is when you are not scoring, it gets magnified," Lightning coach Rick Tocchet said.

Tampa Bay heads into tonight's game at New Jersey ranked 23rd with 2.58 goals per game. But in nearly half of the Lightning's games - 12 of 26 - they have failed to score more than two goals. Their record in those games is 1-6-5.

So as much as the team bemoans a lack of secondary scoring, the bottom line is the Lightning aren't getting a lot of frontline scoring, either.

The biggest mystery among the big three is Lecavalier, whose five goals put him on pace to score 16 for the season. The team's captain has not scored a goal in back-to-back games and has one goal in the past eight. Dating to last season, Lecavalier has scored only five goals in his past 33 games.

"It's probably the toughest stretch I've ever had. That's why I have to get out of it," he said.

In the past two games, Lecavalier missed an open net Monday against Colorado and fumbled a tap-in attempt Wednesday at Boston. For whatever reason, Lecavalier appears to have no confidence around the net.

"It's all confidence," Lecavalier said. "You lose it, it's just not getting results. I'm trying to stay positive, but when things aren't going in, it's tough. Sometimes you get down on yourself a little bit. But you just have to be strong at the net, and I know it's a cliche, but you just have to stay positive and believe you can do it. I've done it before and that's how you get out of it."

St. Louis' goal-scoring difficulties are just as baffling. He is a five-time 30-goal scorer, and though he is ranked top five in the league with 23 assists, he has only three goals in the past 25 games after opening the year by scoring twice in Atlanta.

"I'm very surprised and very disappointed. It's not good enough. I have to find a way," St. Louis said. "I just need to get scoring chances. I can live with myself when I get scoring chances. When I don't score and I don't get scoring chances, then it gets to be like, 'What's going on?' (Right now) it's not enough."

Reporter Erik Erlendsson can be reached at