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Cedric Paquette's hot streak continues for Lightning

 
A BOOST: Defenseman Mark Barberio is getting more ice time because of injuries.
A BOOST: Defenseman Mark Barberio is getting more ice time because of injuries.
Published Feb. 1, 2015

TAMPA — Forward Cedric Paquette said his phone has hardly stopped buzzing with calls and texts during his recent hot streak.

"It's never stopped," the Lightning rookie said. "The last three or four games, it's been on fire."

That likely will continue after he scored again Saturday in a 3-1 win over the Blue Jackets. Paquette has scored in each of the past three games, with five goals total in that stretch. Paquette said he might have had a similar streak once before, in juniors.

"He's earned these breaks," coach Jon Cooper said.

Paquette said he hasn't changed his mentality. He attributed his 10th goal of the season, which came Saturday, to a lucky break that ended with him getting a good look in front of the net.

"I don't think about it," Paquette said. "I just play my game."

DEFENSIVE SWITCHES: Defensemen Mark Barberio and Luke Witkowski have been the Lightning's latest beneficiaries with Radko Gudas and Matt Carle sidelined with injuries.

Cooper has emphasized how hard Barberio's job was earlier this season, as he was expected to contribute with sporadic playing time. Barberio appeared in only two of the team's first 11 games but has played in seven of the past eight and 14 of the past 17.

Barberio has capitalized on the extra ice time. He scored his first goal of the season in Thursday's win over the Red Wings and entered Saturday against the Blue Jackets with more than twice as many shots in January (10) as he had in the first two months of the season combined (four).

"When he gets to play a few more games … you kind of find your rhythm a little bit more," Cooper said. "I think he's been much more poised with the puck as games have gone on. You see him attacking more, jumping into the game."

Witkowski was back in the lineup Saturday for the second game of his NHL career, as Nikita Nesterov was a healthy scratch. Witkowski made his debut against Vancouver on Jan. 20. Cooper said he wanted to keep players fresh as the Lightning prepares for a two-game road trip.

"We don't have him up here to sit on the bench; if that was the case, he'd be back in (AHL) Syracuse," Cooper said. "We've got to get these guys in games. Keep sitting them out and rust sets in."

HOME COOKING: The victory Saturday gave the team a franchise-record 10-game home winning streak that began Dec. 11. G Ben Bishop said the success has come thanks to quick starts and strong attendance at Amalie Arena. F Jonathan Drouin didn't have any difficult theories to explain the hot stretch: "We just don't want to lose games at home. Obviously the road's hard in the NHL. If you take care of your home ice a lot, it's definitely going to help you in the standings and build confidence."

ICE CHIPS: Bishop made his seventh consecutive start. … F Brenden Morrow returned to the lineup. F J.T. Brown was a healthy scratch. … Forwards Brian Boyle and Ryan Callahan were alternate captains. … In honor of the Gasparilla festivities going on downtown, the Lightning played music from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies before the game. ... Paquette went down briefly after taking a stick to the face, but he didn't miss any action.