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Kuba's overtime goal lifts Lightning over Islanders

Mar 21, 2007 - 4:03 AM TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- Defenseman Filip Kuba's first game-winning goal of the season came at a great time for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Kuba scored the decisive goal in overtime as the Lightning posted an important 4-3 triumph over the New York Islanders.

Eric Perrin, Vincent Lecavalier and Jason Ward also scored for the Lightning (40-30-4), who remained sixth in the Eastern Conference but pulled within four points of the first-place Atlanta Thrashers (39-25-10) in the Southeast Division.

Kuba scored the winner 55 seconds into the extra session when he skated towards the net and redirected Eric Perrin's pass by goaltender Rick DiPietro.

"That was just a super pass," Kuba said. "He (Perrin) spotted me and just timed it perfectly. You don't get many chances in front of the net like that against a goaltender like DiPietro. So it's nice to get one when it counts the most."

"He (Kuba) challenged me, and got up close to the net and I just didn't have time to react," DiPietro said. "It was a great pass and he was there and I couldn't make it over fast enough."

Tampa Bay tied the game, 3-3, when Ward banged in a rebound from the left corner of the crease past DiPietro at 4:21 of the third period.

It was the right wing's first goal in nine games with the Lightning since being acquired from the Los Angeles Kings at the February 27 trade deadline.

The Islanders' loss was their sixth in their last seven games, but they have got points in three out of the seven contests. New York (34-27-11) is one point out of the final playoff spot.

"I am pleased with getting a point and playing much better," Islanders coach Ted Nolan said. "But we still have to play with a sense of urgency. Obviously, every point matters."

Lecavalier scored his league-leading 49th goal of the season when he took a pass in the slot from Martin St. Louis and blasted a shot over DiPietro's glove at 1:50 of the second period to tie the game at 1-1.

"They got a great performance out of DiPietro tonight," Lecavalier said. "But we kept battling and kept creating opportunities. More importantly, we left tonight with some very important points."

DiPietro, who missed the two previous games with a head injury, made 36 saves.

"It's always nice to be back," DiPietro said. "It's my job and I expect to do it well. My job is to stop shots. I don't think about how many or how often. My job is to help our guys and get the job done."

"Rick was terrific tonight," Satan said. "Certainly, he kept us in that game early enough and often enough."

Richard Zednik, defenseman Richard Park and Miroslav Satan scored for the Islanders.