Tampa Bay Lightning Nuts and Bolts

Giving a save its due

Lost in the disappointment of failing to hold a two-goal lead late in the third period against Atlanta on Nov. 22 and the excitement of winning in overtime was the unbelievable — yes, unbelievable — groin-stretching save made by Lightning G Antero Niittymaki, left, that almost preserved a regulation victory. We say "almost" because Atlanta's Evander Kane popped in the rebound. Still, the initial stop in which Niittymaki stretched with his left leg across the goal mouth to somehow stop Kane's initial point-blank shot was the save of the season. "It was one of those desperate things," Niittymaki said. "You try to get your body there as quickly as possible. I was down and saw it but felt right away I could get there. Not get there and definitely make the save, but get there a little bit. When it hit me, I was really excited." But the puck bounced high, and Kane used his chest to block it so it fell straight down to his stick. He quickly put the puck past a still-stretched-out Niittymaki for the goal that sent the game to overtime tied 3-3. "I saw the puck bouncing," Niittymaki said. "I don't know how he was able to put it in the net after that rebound." Niittymaki spent plenty of time icing his groin after the game. "I felt it in my body, too," he said of the effects of his effort. "I felt it head to toe."

Funny man

If you haven't checked out D Victor Hedman's holiday message on the Tampa Bay Lightning Web site, do so. Yeah, it's a ticket-sales pitch, but the kid is funny. From the moment he dismissively throws away a pair of underwear because it is a boring present to constantly pointing out that he, indeed, is Victor Hedman, the shtick works.

"I like to have fun," Hedman said, "so it felt pretty good."

Hedman said he enjoys being funny. Remember when he said he needed a few more concussions because his first one made his brain waves test better than on his preseason baseline tests? But Hedman said he is not a joke-teller.

"Just a few comments sometimes," he said. "Just making jokes about the guys, maybe. Sarcasm is a big part of it."

5 questions D Kurtis Foster

What's the biggest difference between playing forward and defense? At forward the game is all around you. On defense, it is in front of you.

Before last week, when was the last time you played forward? One game last year (with the Wild).

And before that? I played it when I was about 8.

Which position has more skating? At forward, you're skating the whole shift.

Is it tougher than defense? It's definitely tougher on the lungs.

Quote to note

"When you get home, it doesn't matter to the baby whether you won or lost 6-1. She just wants to play with you. It's fun that way."

LW Alex Tanguay, on his 18-month-old daughter