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Lacavalier, Lightning aim to keep rolling

Feb 17, 2007 - 5:08 PM Tampa Bay (33-24-2) at Florida (22-26-11) 7:30 pm EST

SUNRISE, Florida (Ticker) -- Vincent Lacavalier has helped carry the Tampa Bay Lightning to the brink of first place in the Southeast Division.

Tampa Bay can take over sole possession of first place with a win over the Florida Panthers on Saturday.

The Lightning have 68 points and trail the Atlanta Thrashers by one point. Atlanta plays the Ottawa Senators on Saturday afternoon.

Lecavalier has been on fire for the Lightning. He has five goals in his last three games, and has tallied 18 times with 11 assists in his last 19 contests.

The center had two goals in a 3-2 shootout win over the Washington Capitals on Thursday. His career-high 39 goals leads the NHL.

Martin St. Louis has also been hot, getting three goals and eight assists in his last eight games. St. Louis has 33 goals, five short of his career high set in his Most Valuable Player season in 2003-04.

The Panthers have 55 points and are nine points out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Florida is 2-3-1 in its last seven after losing, 4-0, to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday. Goaltender Ed Belfour made 29 saves. Despite the defeat, Belfour is 2-1-0 with six goals allowed in his last three starts.

Belfour is 15-7-3 with a 2.35 goals-against average in 26 career starts against Tampa Bay. The veteran netminder is 10-4-0 with a 2.53 GAA in 17 home starts this season.