Lightning Cool Off, Now on Losing Streak

<br>After the Tampa Bay Lightning went the longest without losing a game, they wasted no time in dropping two straight. <br><br>The Lightning started this season on an eight-game unbeaten streak. But they

Friday, November 7th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

After the Tampa Bay Lightning went the longest without losing a game, they wasted no time in dropping two straight.

The Lightning started this season on an eight-game unbeaten streak. But they followed up their first loss with another Thursday night, a 1-0 overtime defeat to the Los Angeles Kings.

Tampa Bay was beaten 5-1 on Tuesday night by Washington to drop to 7-1-1 and become the final NHL team to lose this season. Los Angeles forward Ziggy Palffy scored with 7.7 seconds left in overtime Thursday to make it a losing streak for the Lightning.

``There's been a lot of talk of them not wanting to lose two games in a row. We thought the pressure would be on them,'' Kings coach Andy Murray said. ``We wanted to play tight defensively and see what happens.''

They did just that and got 30 saves from Roman Cechmanek, who earned his second shutout of the season and 22nd in his career.

In other NHL games, it was the New York Islanders 4, Dallas 1; Carolina 6, the New York Rangers 3; Philadelphia 4, Washington 2; San Jose 5, Boston 5; Edmonton 3, Ottawa 3; St. Louis 3, Vancouver 2; and Colorado 2, Phoenix 1.

Palffy was able to score on John Grahame from the slot despite being pulled down.

``I just took a shot,'' Palffy said. ``I was a little bit lucky. It was under his pad and went in.''

Grahame, the backup to Nikolai Khabibulin, made 19 saves and has allowed just two goals in 156 minutes this season.

``Both goalies played super,'' Tampa Bay center Brad Richards said. ``It was one of those games that was going to be a battle, and the slightest mistake might be the difference.''

The Lightning (7-1-1-1) have earned standings points in nine of 10 games.

``We had a lot of positives, and in a game like this that means something,'' forward Vincent Lecavalier said.

Flyers 4, Capitals 2

At Philadelphia, Tony Amonte and Jeremy Roenick each had a goal and assist, leading Philadelphia over Washington.

Robert Esche stopped 20 shots for his fourth straight win, and the Flyers remained unbeaten at home (4-0-2) with their fourth win in five games. Vancouver (6-0-1) is the only other NHL team unbeaten at home this season.

Islanders 4, Stars 1

At Uniondale, N.Y., Trent Hunter's goal with 3:20 left in regulation broke a tie and lifted New York.

Shawn Bates, Michael Peca and Mark Parrish scored for the Islanders, 6-1 at home. Rick DiPietro stopped 27 shots.

Brendan Morrow scored for Dallas, which lost the first two games of a three-game Eastern swing.

Hurricanes 6, Rangers 3

At Raleigh, N.C., Craig Adams had two goals to help Carolina snap a three-game losing streak.

Carolina beat the Rangers for the first time in six games and earned just its third win with a season-high goal total.

Erik Cole, Ryan Bayda, Radim Vrbata and rookie Eric Staal also scored for the Hurricanes. Jan Hlavac scored on a penalty shot, and Alex Kovalev and Martin Rucinsky added goals for New York.

Oilers 3, Senators 3

At Ottawa, Ethan Moreau and Fernando Pisani scored 2:30 apart in the second period and Edmonton overcame a two-goal deficit.

Marian Hossa had his second two-goal game of the season, and Peter Schaefer scored a short-handed goal for Ottawa, winless in four games (0-2-2). Ottawa backup Martin Prusek made 33 saves.

Brad Isbister also scored for Edmonton.

Sharks 5, Bruins 5

At Boston, Sergei Samsonov scored with 13.4 seconds left in regulation, lifting Boston into a tie with San Jose _ 0-7-3 on the road against the Bruins.

Mike Knuble, Glen Murray, Patrice Bergeron and Ian Moran also scored for Boston. Despite outshooting the Sharks 52-23, the Bruins are still winless at home (0-1-2-1).

Scott Thornton scored twice for the Sharks.

Blues 3, Canucks 2

At St. Louis, Keith Tkachuk scored his second consecutive game-winning goal for St. Louis.

The Blues, in first place in the Central Division at 8-3-0-1, have won seven of nine. Vancouver, the Northwest Division leaders at 9-3-2, had its five-game winning streak snapped. The loss also broke the Canucks' nine-game unbeaten streak (7-0-2).

All three of the Canucks' losses this season have come on the road.

Avalanche 2, Coyotes 1

At Denver, Joe Sakic and Milan Hejduk scored third-period goals, Peter Forsberg posted his 500th career assist, and Colorado rallied to beat Phoenix.

Avalanche rookie Philippe Sauve made 27 saves to record his first NHL victory. Sean Burke had 29 saves for the Coyotes, whose winless streak was extended to nine games (0-6-3).