From: wilson@cs.ucf.edu (tom wilson)
Subject: LIGHTNING NEWS: NY Rangers vs. TB 12/11
Organization: University of Central Florida, Orlando
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 22:47:17 GMT

NYR - 1 3 1 - 5
TB  - 1 3 0 - 4

1 - NYR Messier 14                      6:49
    TB  Kontos 21   (Ramage, Bureau)   15:58 (pp)

2 - NYR Turcotte 18 (Messier, Leetch)   3:29 (pp)
    TB  Creighton 7                     6:04 (sh)
    NYR Patrick 1   (Leetch, Turcotte)  7:14 (pp)
    NYR Graves 11   (Nemchinov)         9:31
    TB  Bureau 3    (Chambers)         11:15
    TB  Creighton 8 (Chambers, Beers)  18:28 (pp)

3 - NYR S. King 3   (Leetch, Patrick)   3:55 (pp)

Shots on goal: NYR  8-13-10--31
               TB  11-17-13--41
Power plays:   NYR 3 of 5
               TB  2 of 7
Goalies:       NYR Vanbiesbrouck 8-5-2, 41 shots, 37 saves
               TB  Bergeron 0-1-0, 31 shots, 26 saves
Attendance:    10,425 (7th sellout)

-----

* Lightning lose it late in the sequel

Like Stephen King the author, Steven King the hockey player apparently likes
to attach his name to sequels.

For the second time in three nights, a third-period goal from King, a rookie,
proved the difference for New York, as the Rangers prolonged Tampa Bay's misery
with a 5-4 triumph Friday over the Lightning before a sellout crowd of 10,425
at Expo Hall.

Tampa Bay (10-19-2) has lost six consecutive games and has won once in its last
12. New York (15-11-3) won its third consecutive game.

King, who has three goals in three games since being called up from Binghampton
of the AHL, knocked in a rebound off a shot by James Patrick 3 minutes and 55
seconds into the final period for the game-winner.

"It was a scramble in front, and I happened to be in the right place at the
right time," said King, who had defenseman Joe Reekie draped on him but still
managed a solid shot from the slot, knocking it inside the left goal post.
"The team with the last goal was going to win this game." [I think he meant
that it was a see-saw battle and that the team that scored last would...]

Rangers goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck protected the lead, turning away 13
third-period shots. He finished with 37 saves.

It was left wing Darren Turcotte who made the save of the game, though,
deflecting a backhand attempt by Adam Creighton headed into an empty net three
minutes into the third period. The score was 4-4 at the time, and King
delivered less than a minute later.

Creighton led the Lightning with two goals, including the team's fifth
short-handed goal of the season. Chris Kontos (his 21st) and Marc Bureau also
scored for Tampa Bay.

The Lightning, who dropped a 6-5 decision Wednesday to New York in Miami, would
like to revisit the feeling of winning a close game. Eleven of the team's
losses have been by one goal.

"We're getting tired of this deja vu," Lightning coach Terry Crisp said.

In addition to King's winning goal, Friday's game had several striking
resemblances to Wednesday's meeting. The score was 1-1 after a lethargic
opening period, but the teams got into gear in the middle period -- combining
for six goals -- and played a fairly tight-checking third period.

Again, one goal decided the outcome, and the team on the short end was Tampa.

Goaltender J.C. Bergeron, recalled Thursday from Atlanta, made his debut for
the Lightning, and Crisp was pleased with his performance.

Bergeron had a rude welcoming. The first shot he faced came on a breakaway by
Rangers captain Mark Messier nearly seven minutes into the game. Messier, who
had 440 career goals coming into the game, notched #441 on the play, slipping
a backhand between Bergeron's pads.

Bergeron finished with 26 saves.

Turcotte, Patrick (his 100th NHL goal), and Adam Graves also contributed goals
for the Rangers.

-----

Call 1-800-881-2639 for Lightning news. Entries #2 and #4 have been updated
after Friday's game. Press #2 after any entry to get back to the main menu
before selecting another entry.

Tom
Newsgroups: rec.sport.hockey