Bolts aim to retain urgency at Islanders

One victory does not a season make. But one more loss could result in a season break.

For the time being, a 6-3 victory in St. Louis helped to provide some tonic for what has been ailing Tampa Bay - too many losses. In that victory, the Lightning managed to score a season-high in goals and did not fold in the third period when the Blues scored twice, answering each of St. Louis' third-period tallies with a quick reply to secure the victory.

To validate that victory and try to build some momentum, however, the Lightning must end a season-long six-game road trip with another win.

"You don't want to say do-or-die, but there are games like this and the St. Louis game where as a player you really look to dig deep," Lightning coach Rick Tocchet said. "And this is a game, come Christmas time, you get to the halfway point, we came off a nice win in St. Louis, so you are looking for your team to dig deep in these games. So is it a big game, yeah. I would say it's a dig-deep game, absolutely."

Things had begun to head so far south on Tampa Bay's season, doubts were beginning to creep in as to whether the slide could be stopped. During the opening four games of the trip, the Lightning picked up one point, were shut out twice, held to one goal in an overtime loss and then in the one game they managed to score four goals, Tampa Bay allowed seven in Nashville.

Now, with a solid effort Friday, the Lightning have a chance to salvage five of a possible 12 points and sustain momentum heading into a five-game homestand that begins Wednesday against Philadelphia.

"(Tonight) is definitely a critical game," General Manager Brian Lawton said. "We've been on a rough ride here where losing becomes contagious and we want to turn that around and let winning become contagious. It's another opportunity to continue that. The Islanders will be ready. They are a good team and have been playing well this year and we'll see how our guys respond. Hopefully the monkey is off their back a little bit."

Though games are rarely mistake-free, there were plenty of positives as to how the Lightning won their last game. There was some passion displayed by captain Vinny Lecavalier and the team followed suit. When the third period came around, the team didn't fold. And when the Blues made a push, Tampa Bay shoved right back.

"I just think we played with more urgency," Lecavalier said. "I think from the get-go guys were into it and we were doing the little things right. Bringing a good aggression on the ice, skating with more jump, and more urgency, that's what it really was. When you play like that, you will win a lot of hockey games."

It helps to see the brick wall around the opposite net get chipped down as well, with the six goals exceeding the total number of goals scored on the first four games of the road trip combined.

"To score six goals hopefully loosens some guys' hands up and loosens our team up," Tocchet said.

If not, things will begin to tighten up again.