From: wilson@cs.ucf.edu (tom wilson)
Subject: LIGHTNING NEWS: Minnesota vs. TB 1/24
Organization: University of Central Florida, Orlando
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 08:58:13 GMT

MIN - 1 1 0 0 - 2
TB  - 0 1 1 0 - 2

1 - MIN Dahlen 17 (Modano, Gagner)    17:50 (pp)

2 - TB  Hartman 4 (Kontos, Creighton)  3:00
    MIN Modano 18 (Broten)            19:11 (pp)

3 - TB  Zamuner 5 (DiMaio, Bureau)     2:34

OT- none

Shots on goal: MIN 11-11-11-3--36
               TB   5-12- 9-4--30
Power plays:   MIN 2 of 6
               TB  0 of 4
Goalies:       MIN Casey 18-11-4, 30 shots, 28 saves
               TB  Jablonski 8-13-3, 36 shots, 34 saves
Attendance:    9,086

-----

* Lightning salvage OT tie with Stars

- Tampa Bay earns 1st point in 5 games with Minnesota, 2-2

A homestand that had started with so little promise took another uplifting turn
for Tampa on Sunday as the Lightning battled Minnesota to a 2-2 deadlock in
front of 9,086 at Expo Hall.

Rookie Rob Zamuner's first goal since Nov. 17 -- a span of 29 games -- early in
the third tied the score at 2, and that's the way it stayed. It was an added
boost for the Lightning because the tie arrived with the best player, Brian
Bradley, out of the lineup with a bruised shoulder.

Tampa is 16-32-3, and it wraps up its homestand against St. Louis on Thursday.

After dropping the first four of seven consecutive games on home ice, the
Lightning picked up their third point in two nights, matching a playoff caliber
team that had beaten them the four previous times. Sunday's game also marked
the first overtime session at Expo Hall.

Elements that were missing in the team's recent losing streak have returned.
The Lightning are beginning to get better balance offensively and play sounder
in their own end.

Of course, the biggest factor in the Lightning's weekend success was the
sparkling play of goaltendeer Pat Jablonski, who kicked away 34 shots on
Sunday, just 24 hours after turning aside 37 shots in a 5-1 victory over San
Jose.

"We played good, sound defensive hockey tonight and got good, solid goaltending
out of Pat," Lightning coach Terry Crisp said. "That's what we need."

Tampa also had patiently awaited Zamuner to break free from his slump after a
fast start that put him among the NHL's rookie scoring leaders. He scored on a
shot that might not have broken a pane of glass, but that did nothing to
diminish his relief when the red light flashed behind the net.

With three defenders surrounding him at Minnesota's blue line, Zamuner flipped
the puck in the direction of goaltender Jon Casey, who nonchalantly misplayed
the puck off the heel of his stick and watched almost in disbelief as it
trickled into the goal.

Zamuner was asked if he was surprised to see the shot go in.

"Of course I was," he said, smiling, "because I shot it. Maybe my luck is
turning. It felt like a concrete wall fell off my back."

Tampa had played a lackluster first period -- putting just five shots on Casey
-- but picked up both pace and momentum in the second period. The momentum,
though, was relinquished late, as a defensive turnover led to Minnesota's
second goal.

Neal Broten intercepted a risky clearing attempt by Tampa's Rob Ramage at the
blue line, sent a pass to Modano at the right faceoff circle, and he blistered
a shot past Jablonski, who had little chance of stopping it.

Tampa pressed hard trying to net a game-winner in overtime but could not sneak
the puck past Casey (28 saves). However, the Lightning were pleased with a tie.

"Anytime you get three of four points on the weekend, you've got to feel good
about your team," Jablonski said. "Anything but a loss...this team has got to
keep moving foward."

Tom
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