Lightning Lose Defensive Struggle, 2-0

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Tampa Bay Scoreless In Ottawa.


The Tampa Bay Lightning ended their four-game road swing tonight when they dropped a close decision to the Ottawa Senators, 2-0.

The game was a defensive struggle between two teams that have found goals hard to come by in the season so far.

For the Lightning, a total of 10 penalties on the night insured that whenever they began to establish a skating rhythm, the official’s whistle put a stop to the momentum.

After a scoreless first period in which Tampa Bay outshot the Senators, 9 – 7, Ottawa took advantage of a call on Ryan Craig for high-sticking and converted the power play into what would prove to be the game winning goal, a slapshot from the point by former Lightning Alexandre Picard that found the back of the net at 5:04 of the second period.

Once in the lead, the burden of work fell on Ottawa netminder Martin Gerber and the Senator defense. For Gerber, who handled all 24 Lightning shots on net, the shutout was his first in eight appearances over this season. He was challenged on several occasions by Tampa Bay, most notably with 1:25 to play in the game when Mark Recchi got in front of the Senator net with the puck but his scoring try was smothered by Gerber and the rebound directed into the corner to Gerber’s right.

The Lightning were not without extra man opportunities of their own, but they failed to capitalize when Ottawa was short-handed on six occasions.

Mike Smith, starting in net for the Lightning, allowed one goal on 32 shots. The final Senator goal, with 45 seconds remaining in the game, was delivered by Daniel Alfredsson into an empty net which Smith had vacated in favor of an extra attacker.

For Tampa Bay, Mark Recchi lead the team in shots on goal with four while Adam Hall had four of the team’s total of 23 hits.

Tampa Bay, coming off a win in Montreal Thursday night, was unable to keep their winning streak going and now head home to the St. Pete Times Forum, where they host the Colorado Avalanche on December 18th.