And the wave has started to come crashing down again

by Bob Herpen
Sports Network Writer

Vinny Prospal netted the game-winner in the second period and Mike Smith made 35 stops as Tampa Bay snuck by Philadelphia, 2-1, at the Wachovia Center.

Jussi Jokinen also lit the lamp for the Lightning, who stopped a two-game losing streak and have won four of six.

In his return after missing only six games from abdominal surgery, Daniel Briere scored the lone goal for the Flyers, who have dropped three in a row.

Martin Biron was the hard-luck loser after a 20-save performance.

"It's odd when we're scoring goals in bunches and couldn't keep them out of our net. Now we are keeping them out of our net and we are not scoring, said Flyers head coach John Stevens. "To me it has to start from not giving up as much at our net. That is where this thing is going to turn around. I think we did that tonight and that is a step in the right direction."

With a one-goal edge, Smith and the Tampa Bay defense continued to frustrate the Flyers in the third period, keeping the home team away from the front of the net.

The Flyers also wasted a power-play chance with 7:31 left in regulation, then couldn't muster a solid chance with Biron pulled in the final minute.

A tense first period did not lack for action. Two Flyers shots hit posts early on and midway through, Biron stoned Vincent Lecavalier on a clean breakaway, getting his left pad on the shot before it crossed the goal line.

Philly was awarded a lengthy 5-on-3 advantage after Lightning players Adam Hall and Marek Malik were sent off 24 seconds apart. Briere capitalized by stashing a rebound home at 17:20 for a two-man edge tally.

It was the only shot Smith let slip by during the Flyers' 18-shot first-period barrage.

In the second period, Tampa tied the game on Jokinen's wrister at 7:58, then went ahead when Prospal finished off a 3-on-1 break at 13:35.

Jeff Carter had barely missed a chance to put the Flyers ahead before the Lightning broke out the other way off the rebound. After Martin St. Louis led the rush up the right wing, Lecavalier got the puck in the slot and dished to the former Flyer who beat Biron on the short side.

"We played a good defensive game tonight and we had our opportunities," said Flyers captain Mike Richards. "We had two mistakes, they scored two goals, and we didn't capitalize on our chances."

Game Notes

Tampa has won 14 of the last 17 meetings...Prospal had two stints with Philadelphia (1996-98; 2008)...On Friday, the Flyers acquired defenseman Matt Carle from Tampa Bay in exchange for defenseman Steve Eminger and forward Steve Downie. Carle played almost 26 minutes and was a minus-one...The club also recalled Josh Gratton from the Phantoms...Briere now has 20 points (10G, 10A) in 26 career games against the Lightning.