NCAAbbs

PLAYOFF SERIES: Eastern Conference quarterfinals; tied 1-1.
The New York Islanders have been giving the Tampa Bay Lightning trouble for the last three regular seasons. A playoff matchup has apparently changed little between the teams.

The top-seeded Lightning look to bounce back from being shut out in Game 2 of the first-round series when the scene shifts to raucous Nassau Coliseum for Game 3.

Tampa Bay beat New York 3-0 in Thursday night's opener and looked ready to take command in the series Saturday. But the Islanders returned the favor with a 3-0 victory, as 22-year-old Rick DiPietro made 22 saves for his first postseason win in his second career start to pull his team even.

``I think everyone's nervous,'' DiPietro said. ``If you don't have jitters, then you better check your pulse because this is a big time of year. Big circumstances.''

This series has further confirmed that Tampa Bay's problems against New York aren't a result of Lightning overconfidence. New York, which won the season series 3-1 and is 9-3 against Tampa Bay since the start of the 2001-02 season, outshot the Lightning 30-15 in the opener.

``I think some guys are fighting the puck a little bit. ... It happens sometimes,'' Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella said. ``I'm not discouraged. I believe in this hockey club. We'll be ready to play.''

They had better be at Nassau Coliseum, where the Lightning went 0-2 this season and lost by a combined score of 8-2. Islanders fans are sure to crank up the volume in the NHL's smallest venue.

``Long Island is a tough place to play when the crowd's going, so we're looking forward to getting back and seeing our fans and having them push us through these next two games,'' said DiPietro, who four years ago became the first goaltender selected No. 1 overall in the NHL draft.

While the fans should give the Islanders an emotional lift Monday night, it was Jason Blake who sparked his team Saturday. Blake returned from a high ankle sprain, expected to sideline him for the entire series, and scored his first two career playoff goals -- including an empty-netter with just under a minute to go.

Janne Niinimaa also scored his first playoff goal and added an assist on Blake's second as New York wrested away home-ice advantage. The Islanders had one of the league's best home records this season at 25-11-4-1.

``To go home is great, but it's going to take an effort like that no matter where we play to continue to succeed,'' Islanders first-year coach Steve Stirling said.

For Tampa Bay to regain control of the series, its top players have to get on track in a hurry. The Lightning's top four scorers -- Martin St. Louis, Cory Stillman, Brad Richards and Vincent Lecavalier -- were shut out for a second straight game, and Tampa Bay went 0-for-7 on the power play.

If those stars can't help the Lightning generate more offensive chances, the pressure increases on Nikolai Khabibulin. Tampa Bay's goalie has given up only two goals in the series, but has seen his team outshot in both contests. The Islanders held a 25-22 advantage Saturday.

It remains to be seen whether rugged defenseman Eric Cairns will return to the Islanders' lineup for Game 3. New York was done in by two turnovers by Cairns in Game 1. Stirling insisted he didn't hold him responsible, but Cairns didn't play Saturday.

With the more mobile Sven Butenschon replacing Cairns, Tampa Bay struggled to generate scoring chances.

St. Louis, the NHL scoring champion this season, has been limited to four shots in the series.

Game 4 is Wednesday night at Nassau Coliseum.

HOW THEY GOT HERE: Lightning - 106 points; 1st seed. Islanders - 91 points; 8th seed.

PLAYOFF TEAM LEADERS: Lightning - Fredrik Modin, 2 goals and 2 points; Darryl Sydor and Pavel Kubina, 1 assist; St. Louis, 6 PIM. Islanders - Blake, 2 goals; Mark Parrish, 2 assists; Blake, Parrish and Niinimaa, 2 points; four with 4 PIM.

PLAYOFF SPECIAL TEAMS: Lightning - Power play: 7.1 percent (1 for 14). Penalty killing: 87.5 percent (7 for 8). Islanders - Power play: 12.5 percent (1 for 8). Penalty killing: 92.9 percent (13 for 14).

GOALTENDERS: Lightning - Khabibulin (1-1, 1 SO, 1.02 GAA); John Grahame (no appearances). Islanders - DiPietro (1-1, 1, 1.50); Garth Snow (no appearances).

Tampa Bay 3, NY Islanders 0

By BARRY WILNER, AP Sports Writer
April 12, 2004

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) -- Desperation is a good thing in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

After losing at home to the New York Islanders, the Tampa Bay Lightning wanted to play as if every shift, shot and save could make the difference in their playoff series. So they scored early, then turned turn matters over to goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin in a 3-0 victory Monday night.

Khabibulin's 28 saves and two goals by Martin St. Louis gave Tampa Bay a 2-1 opening-round lead. Brad Richards had a goal and two assists.

All three games have ended 3-0, and for Game 4 here Wednesday night, both teams must be thinking that allowing even one goal can doom them.

``Nik was tremendous again,'' St. Louis said. ``He was the Nos. 1-2-3 stars tonight. He was the difference.

``Our desperation was as high as I've seen it, and we need it every shift. Teams will not go far in the playoffs if they are goofing around.''

There was nothing goofy about Khabibulin's third career shutout. He made the first save, then usually controlled the puck. His teammates helped by quickly breaking out of the defensive zone most of the night.

``We have to be pleased, no matter what happens,'' Khabibulin said. ``It's nice to get the win, but at the same time, we have to get four wins.''

Richards put the Lightning in front on a power play 3:40 into the game. He was stationed in the slot when Dan Boyle passed from the right point, and Richards deflected the puck off Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro and it trickled into the net.

``We had the same type of opportunities in Game 2 and didn't score,'' said Richards, who got his first playoff goal in 14 games. ``Tonight, the difference maybe was scoring in the first period.''

Less than three minutes later, it was 2-0. St. Louis, the NHL's leading scorer this season with 94 points, got his first point of the series with a wrist shot from 15 feet. He was set up by some excellent work along the boards from linemates Richards and Fredrik Modin.

``If we play desperate like tonight, we'll be in good shape,'' St. Louis said.

Khabibulin kept it 2-0 with several superb first-period saves. His best came when he robbed Mark Parrish from close range on an Islanders power play, and he also handled a deft deflection by Dave Scatchard during a New York flurry.

Richards also put a wraparound attempt off the goal post while Tampa Bay was short-handed.

Khabibulin was spectacular in the final minute of the second period, turning aside a wave of dangerous shots, including two by Mariusz Czerkawski and a slapper by Kenny Jonsson within seconds of each other. Until then, the Islanders rarely came close to beating the Russian goaltender.

``We were probably gripping our sticks a little tight,'' Islanders captain Michael Peca said. ``We knew full well that they were going to come out better than they have.''

New York won both regular-season meetings at Nassau Coliseum, but Monday the Lightning showed why they were the Eastern Conference's best team. Six minutes into the final period, with Tampa Bay dominating the puck, the crowd began booing the home team -- except for DiPietro, who stopped a partial breakaway by Dimitry Afanasenkov, then blocked a rebound shot.

The fans got excited only sporadically, and when Khabibulin allowed a rare rebound on Peca's shot, he stopped Parrish's attempt midway in the thirdperiod. New York never really threatened again.

Notes

Khabibulin has stopped 80 shots in the series. ... Tampa is 2-for-16 on power plays, while the Islanders are 1-for-11. ... Lightning D Jassen Cullimore left in the second period with an undisclosed injury. ... The Islanders havelost three straight postseason home games. ... DiPietro made 21 saves.