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Booth scores late as Panthers down Lightning

Nov 6, 2007 - 5:15 AM SUNRISE, Florida (Ticker) -- Not even a cheap shot was going to stop the Florida Panthers from winning for the third time in four games.

David Booth redirected Ruslan Salei's slap shot with less than two minutes remaining as the Panthers downed the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-3, on Monday.

At 18:41 of the third period and the game deadlocked at 3-3, Florida center Olli Jokinen worked the puck from the left side over to Salei, who launched a slapper from the right faceoff circle that Booth was able to redirect past Tampa Bay goaltender Johan Holmqvist for the go-ahead goal.

"I didn't see it because I was facing Salei, but I knew I hit it," Booth said. "When I turned around, I saw Jokinen with his hands raised, so I was pretty pumped. This is my first one at home in Florida so it's a special one, and to make it with one minute left in the third period to win the game makes it (even more so)."

The contest was marred by a violent play at 14:04 of the second period, when Lightning center Nick Tarnasky slammed Panthers defenseman Mike Van Ryn into the boards. While most of the attention centered on Van Ryn, who was visibly shaken on the play, Tarnasky met up with the other Florida defenseman, Bryan Allen, who was rushing to Van Ryn's side.

Tarnasky spotted Allen and both players skated around each other. A linesman attempting to break them up restricted Allen more than he did Tarnasky, leaving the door open for the Lightning center to strike a defenseless Allen.

Both Van Ryn and Allen left the ice slowly under their own power, but only the former returned. Tarnasky was given a five-minute major for fighting and 10-minute penalty for game misconduct, ending his night.

"Would someone explain the major (penalty) on Tarns?" Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella said. "Was it not just a body check? I was told it was a violent hit from behind. I didn't even see the guy's (Mike Van Ryn) back. I saw his side. I don't understand that one."

Allen required stitches to his face but isn't expected to miss any games, according to coach Jacques Martin, who called the incident "unfortunate."

Center Vincent Lecavalier notched two assists for the Lightning, who remain one of only two winless teams on the road this season (0-7-1), joining the New York Rangers.

"They haven't won on the road," Jokinen said. "You definitely want to keep the cap on them."

"It's painful to lose lately, period," said Lightning right wing Martin St. Louis, who scored the first goal of the game. "Those are tough ones. You kind of dig yourself in a hole a bit - a lot. We just got to get that first (road) win. When we get one, then we'll feel a little bit better."

The teams will meet again Wednesday night in Tampa Bay.

"We are in the same situation they are," Salei said. "We're a couple of points ahead of them. We have to play desperate to make the playoffs."