Tampa Bay Lightning loses to Florida Panthers 3-2 in shootout

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, February 19, 2011

TAMPA — In a week filled with difficult defeats, Saturday's 3-2 shootout loss to the last-place Panthers was especially tough to take for the Lightning.

Coach Guy Boucher knew the game would be very close, anticipating it would be tied going into the third period. And it was. But Tampa Bay, which had more shots and more scoring chances — and held a one-goal lead with three minutes to go — watched one slip away in front of 18,710 at the St. Pete Times Forum.

"We felt we deserved the game," Boucher said.

Said center Nate Thompson: "I thought we played a pretty complete game all over the ice. … It's a tough one to swallow."

The Lightning (34-18-7), ending a week in which it lost in a shootout to the Eastern Conference's top team, the Flyers, and 6-2 Thursday to the Red Wings, appeared to be on the verge of picking up two huge points against the Southeast Division's bottom-dweller.

But with about five minutes to go in regulation, Thompson was called for a boarding penalty, and on the ensuing power play, Mike Santorelli knocked in a rebound to tie it up. (Santorelli was the only player to score in the shootout to lift Florida to the win).

Thompson was disappointed in himself for taking a penalty, but he said he didn't think icing was going to be called on the play and was just finishing his check.

"I saw a (uniform) number and let up anyway. I didn't even hit him that hard," Thompson said. "It was a judgment call."

Said Boucher: "It was a real close, close, close icing, and it wasn't a very big check. He's fighting for the puck. It's a close call. I'm not going to blame Thompson on this."

Goalie Dan Ellis, making his first start since Feb. 6, played good enough to win, making 24 saves, including huge ones on breakaway chances by David Booth and Cory Stillman. Ellis said he saw the puck well and felt "the best I've ever felt."

"(Ellis) was fantastic," Thompson said. "He made some big saves. That's why it is disappointing. We wanted to win for him."

The Lightning had its share of chances, outshooting Florida 36-26. It got goals from Marc-Andre Bergeron and Sean Bergenheim. But Tampa Bay went 0-for-6 on the power play. That included one chance in overtime, during which Steven Stamkos ripped a shot off the post.

Boucher said he believed the power play unit progressed throughout the game but couldn't capitalize.

The Lightning is 5-3-2 on its 12-game homestand but 2-3-2 in its past seven. The schedule doesn't get easier, as the surging Coyotes and Devils come to town this week.

"It's disappointing because I thought we deserved to win that game," Stamkos said. "But that's the way things are going right now."

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@sptimes.com

Panthers	0	1	1	0	3
Lightning	1	0	1	0	2
Panthers win shootout 1-0

Panthers	0	1	1	0	3
Lightning	1	0	1	0	2
Panthers win shootout 1-0

First Period—1, Tampa Bay, Bergeron 2 (R.Jones, St. Louis), 4:45. Penalties—Weaver, Fla (boarding), 7:56; Stillman, Fla (delay of game), 10:33; Ellerby, Fla (tripping), 15:55; Moore, TB (interference), 18:38; Ohlund, TB (tripping), 19:09.

Second Period—2, Florida, Booth 17 (Wideman, Weiss), :24 (pp). Penalties—None.

Third Period—3, Tampa Bay, Bergenheim 12 (Moore, Hall), :14. 4, Florida, Santorelli 16 (Stillman, McCabe), 17:00 (pp). Penalties—Reasoner, Fla (hooking), 1:17; Booth, Fla (interference), 12:28; Thompson, TB (boarding), 15:26. Overtime—None. Penalties—Dvorak, Fla (tripping), 2:20. Shootout—Florida 1 (Santorelli G, Booth NG, Stillman NG), Tampa Bay 0 (Hall NG, Moore NG, Downie NG). Shots on Goal—Florida 6-10-8-2—26. Tampa Bay 12-13-8-3—36. Power-play opportunities—Florida 2 of 3; Tampa Bay 0 of 6. Goalies—Florida, Clemmensen 6-5-3 (36 shots-34 saves). Tampa Bay, Ellis 13-7-6 (26-24). A—18,710 (19,758).

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/tampa-bay-lightning-loses-to-florida-panthers-3-2-in-shootout/1152795

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