An extra day off may have been much needed for the slumpingTampa Bay Lightning, who suddenly are struggling to find the backof the net.
Their current skid began with a loss eight days ago to the NewYork Rangers, who hope to have defenseman Dan Girardi back forSunday’s rematch at Madison Square Garden.
Tampa Bay (6-4-0) averaged 5.3 goals while winning six of itsfirst seven games, but has totaled five during a three-game losingstreak.
The Lightning put a season-low 19 shots on net in a 4-2 defeatat New Jersey on Thursday, as Steven Stamkos went without a goalfor the second straight game after scoring at least one in fivestraight.
„We don’t seem to capitalize on our chances and it has beenhurting us the last three games,“ coach Guy Boucher said.
Tampa Bay was scheduled to play in Boston on Saturday in whatwas supposed to be its third stop on a four-game road trip, but awinter storm caused treacherous travel and the game was postponed -giving Boucher’s club an extra day to figure out how to bust out ofits funk.
„We just needed to battle more,“ said Martin St. Louis, who hasan NHL-best 13 assists. „The last couple of games we spent too muchtime in our end zone and when we got on offense, we didn’t do avery good job of sustaining it.“
Tampa Bay was 6-1-1 in the previous eight meetings before NewYork’s 3-2 road victory Feb. 2, as Rick Nash and Carl Hagelinscored third-period goals for the Rangers after it was tied aftertwo.
Stamkos scored his second goal of the game with 41 secondsremaining.
The Rangers are coming off a 4-1 win over the Islanders onThursday, but coach John Tortorella said his team needs to pick upthe pace.
„I still think we need to play with more energy,“ Tortorellasaid. „We need more tempo in our game. We’ve got to continue toimprove.“
New York (5-5-0) has been outscored 26-24 and is in the bottomthird of the league in goals scored. It has converted only 4 of its37 power-play opportunities (10.8 percent), ranking among the worstin the NHL.
„We have to find a way to get points,“ Tortorella said. „Istill think there’s a lot of sloppiness with our game. There are alot of things that need to continue to improve.“
Rookie J.T. Miller provided all the offense necessary Thursday,netting two goals in his second NHL game. Marian Gaborik and RyanMcDonagh also scored cheap sports jerseys.
„We need everybody to do good stuff for us,“ said HenrikLundqvist, who made 27 saves. „(Miller) plays so mature out there,making good decisions with the puck. It definitely brings someenergy to the group NHL jerseys for sale. Guys come in and do well right away.“
Captain Ryan Callahan returned Thursday after missing theprevious three games with a dislocated shoulder, and the Rangerscould have Girardi back from a two-game absence due to a lower-bodyinjury.
„I just want to get back,“ Girardi said. „It would be nice toplay Sunday.“
Martin Biron made 30 saves versus the Lightning in the firstmeeting, though Lundqvist could get the start Sunday despite going1-2-4 with a 2.79 goals-against average in his last seven starts inthis series.
It’s unclear if Tampa will go with Mathieu Garon, who made 27saves in the first meeting, or Anders Lindback.
