Marc Denis helped the Tampa Bay Lightning turn
a pre-game sense of urgency into a much-needed victory.
Denis made 34 saves, and Ryan Craig and Ruslan Fedotenko scored
second-period goals to help Tampa Bay beat the Philadelphia Flyers
4-1 on Thursday night.
``We knew we were facing a desperate hockey team, but it was more
about this dressing room to be honest with you,'' Denis said. ``We
needed to find our identity and get back to our brand of hockey.''
Denis lost his bid for his first shutout of the season and 16th
overall when Sami Kapanen scored a short-handed goal with 4:12 left.
``I think the most important thing that hopefully we can learn
from this game as we move forward is, it's just about being
accountable,'' Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella said. ``Being
accountable to yourself and your teammates.''
The Lightning, who had lost four of five, also got third-period
goals from Vinny Prospal and Nikita Alexeev. Tampa Bay has won nine
straight games against the Flyers, outscoring Philadelphia 43-16.
``It's only good if we go in and do something good in Washington
(Saturday),'' said Tampa Bay center Brad Richards, who had two
assists. ``You've got to back these wins up.''
Philadelphia center Peter Forsberg left in the first after
spraining his left wrist. The Flyers' captain, who will miss Friday
night's game at Florida, was hurt when he used his arm to brace
himself against the boards. A team official said X-rays were
negative.
``The hand got squeezed in the boards,'' Forsberg said. ``I don't
know exactly how it's going to take, but not too long. Hopefully,
it's just a sprain and maybe a week or so.''
Forsberg is scheduled to be re-examined by a specialist Friday in
Orlando.
``We don't think it's broken,'' Philadelphia coach Ken Hitchcock
said. ``We'll have a better update in the next 24 hours.''
Antero Niittymaki made 32 saves for the Flyers, who were coming
off a 9-1 loss to Buffalo on Tuesday night. Philadelphia has dropped
four in a row.
``We didn't capitalize on our chances,'' Hitchcock said.
``There's a fine line between winning and losing right now.''
Craig put the Lightning ahead 1-0 at 7:38 of the second when he
made a waist-high deflection off a tipped pass from Richards. Criag
left later in the second with a right knee injury and be re-examined
Friday.
Fedotenko made it 2-0 on a rebound goal with 6:12 left in the
second. Philadelphia has been outscored 15-6 during the second this
season.
Notes: The Flyers sent C Petr Nedved and LW Niko Dimitrakos to
Philadelphia of the AHL. Both had been placed on waivers Wednesday.
... Criag has four goals in three career games against Philadelphia.
... Flyers D Mike Rathje returned after missing five games with a
back injury. ... Lightning C Andreas Karlsson (strained groin)
played after sitting out five game.
