Lightning zap Jets 1-0

By: Gary Lawless Posted: 6:53 PM CDT Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011 Last Modified: 10:13 PM CDT Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011 | Updates

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TAMPA, Fla. — Ondrej Pavelec was the best of his Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night but he needed to be perfect and that wasn’t the case.

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TAMPA, Fla. — Ondrej Pavelec was the best of his Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night but he needed to be perfect and that wasn’t the case.

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TAMPA, Fla. — Ondrej Pavelec was the best of his Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night but he needed to be perfect and that wasn’t the case.

Pavelec lost track of a rebound and while his eyes were searching for the puck, Tampa Bay Lightning sniper Vincent Lecavalier had it in the corner from where he whipped it past the unsuspecting goalie.

The goal was the difference as the Lightning took a 1-0 win over the Jets before 19,204 fans at the St. Pete Times Forum. Winnipeg is now 3-6-1 on the season while the Lightning improve to 5-4-2 after an important Southeast Division matchup.

Chris O'Meara / The Associated Press
Tampa Bay Lightning centre Steven Stamkos (91) is knocked down by Winnipeg Jets defenceman Johnny Oduya, of Sweden, during the first period of an NHL hockey game on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) — Chris O'Meara / The Associated Press Tampa Bay Lightning centre Steven Stamkos (91) is knocked down by Winnipeg Jets defenceman Johnny Oduya, of Sweden, during the first period of an NHL hockey game on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Pavelec was able to stop all but one of Tampa’s 27 shots while Lightning goalie Dwayne Roloson was a perfect 28-for-28.

“It’s difficult, you let eight goals in on Thursday and get two points and in this game you let one goal in and you get the loss,” said Pavelec.

“We couldn’t score, a lot of scramble in front of their net and we couldn’t put it in. Our guys played so hard in the third. (Lecavalier) surprised me. I made a rebound and didn’t know it went in the corner. I though it was more on the boards close to the blueline so that’s why I stayed in the middle. I had two guys in front of me and I couldn’t seem him at all. It was a good shot and it surprised me. It’s my fault but things happen. But this game was about one goal.”

The Jets have been faulted for poor defensive play and a lack of structure as a team on the ice but they stuck to their system for the most part on this night which was in stark contrast to their game on Thursday which saw them down the Philadelphia Flyers 9-8.

“We recognize that we don’t have the ability to score nine every night. I thought we played hard, we played responsible and I thought Pavelec was outstanding,” said coach Claude Noel. “You can’t really fault him on the goal. He was tremendous.”

CP
Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Dwayne Roloson (30) battles with Winnipeg Jets left wing Evander Kane (9) for a loose puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) — CP Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Dwayne Roloson (30) battles with Winnipeg Jets left wing Evander Kane (9) for a loose puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Noel liked the way his team cut down on mistakes and played within their system despite the final outcome.

“This was quite a bit better, we played way more methodical. We just need to grind one through. We couldn’t even get one,” he said. “Our power play was a little better but we took too many penalties again giving them five power plays which didn’t help us. It grinds you down and shortens your bench.”

Lightning coach Guy Boucher has the likes of Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis and Steven Stamkos on his bench and in a tight game where one shot is the difference they can be killers.

“We talked in the morning about missing tons of opportunities to shoot in the last game and that’s not our team. We’re a shooting mentality team,” said Boucher. “It came from putting the puck on net from a bad angle. Our goalie coach says it all the time, normal angles and good shots, goalies stop them all the time. Bad angles, they go in.”

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca