Bolts' Levavalier on way to regaining comfort level

Now that he has put a 15-game scoreless drought to rest, C Vinny Lecavalier believes the goals will start coming more easily.

Lecavalier scored on a backhand rebound with less a second left in the first period of Saturday night's 3-2 shootout loss to the Sabres. He hadn't scored since March 17 against Toronto.

"It definitely feels better," Lecavalier said after Sunday's practice. "Even though we lost, we played a great game. I was happy and relieved. It's nice to get that monkey off your back and feel lighter.

"Even though I was happy with the way I was playing, when the puck doesn't go in, it kind of weighs on you a little bit."

The team captain had five goals at this point last year en route to a 29-goal season, his lowest output since 2001-2002. He scored a career-high 52 goals in 2005-2006 and followed that with 40 goals in 2006-2007.

Lecavalier said his past two games have been his best of the year. Although he didn't score in Thursday's 5-2 victory over San Jose, he had an assist on rookie James Wright's goal 30 seconds into the game and played well overall.

He credits his new linemates, C/LW Wright and old favorite, RW Marty St. Louis.

"I think playing with Marty and Wright, two really fast guys, we've been playing some good hockey," Lecavalier said. "The more you get opportunities, the more comfortable you feel on the ice. Even if I wouldn't have scored last night, I would have said the last two games I've been feeling a lot better."

Ranger's status

D Paul Ranger, who missed practice after also missing Saturday night's game, is on "personal leave." The team will comment on the matter today, a spokesman said.

Coach Rick Tocchet said he spoke to Ranger twice on Saturday and that he "has to take care of a couple of things, so I'm going to respect his privacy."

Anxious wait

Wright completed his nine-game NHL tryout Saturday night and said Sunday he hasn't heard whether the Lightning are going to keep him or send him back to his junior team in Vancouver.

It's partly a business decision: Wright has juniors eligibility remaining, and if the Lightning send him back, his three-year pro contract won't start until next year. And there are fairly high-salaried players at the Lightning's AHL affiliate in Norfolk who could step in.

But if the Lightning send Wright back, that could send the message that winning isn't what's most important. Tocchet has repeatedly praised Wright's effort and play, and he's using him on the No. 1 line.

"I feel good about the way I played, and I think I left pretty much all of it out there," Wright said. "So, obviously, it's in their hands right now, and I'm just playing the waiting game."

Wright has a powerful force in his corner in Lecavalier, who said he would lobby for the rookie to stay.

"He's been playing great," Lecavalier said. "He's a smart player and fast. He's a quick learner. He listens when we talk as a line, so it's good."

Nuts and bolts

D Andrej Meszaros practiced Sunday after undergoing a CT scan that was negative. He did not return Saturday night after being hit with a stick in the left eye during the third period. ... Wright and D Matt Walker were held from practice for body maintenance. "A couple of nagging things that hopefully these two days off will help, but nothing major," Tocchet said.

Tony Fabrizio