By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Three stars
JAMES NEAL: The Penguins wing, who has struggled to score since being acquired from the Stars in February to do just that for the offensively challenged team, slapped a sharp-angle shot on the Lightning net and got the winning goal in the second overtime, his first of the postseason and just his second with Pittsburgh.
MARTY ST. LOUIS: The Lightning wing's goal late in the second — his fourth of the series — pulled Tampa Bay within one and gave it a much-needed lift. He also assisted on Sean Bergenheim's tying goal late in the third.
ARRON ASHAM: The Penguins fourth-line wing, a thorn in the Lightning's side all series, scored in the second to give Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead. It was his third goal of the playoffs.
Quote to note
"That's a good name. That's pretty cool. That's obvious she's a hockey fan." — Lightning W Ryan Malone after hearing that Tampa Bay resident Miah Glisson will name her daughter, due in August, Zoe Malone
Number of the day
8.68 Average rating in Pittsburgh for television coverage of the Penguins, about 101,000 homes, best in the league
Tickets
About 2,000 remain for Monday's potential Game 6 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa. Several hundred potentially unused team tickets might be available through Ticketmaster (outlets, ticketmaster.com, toll-free 1-800-745-300).
The series
Game 1, Penguins 3, Lightning 0: Pens goalie Marc-Andre Fleury wows.
Game 2, Lightning 5, Penguins 1: Lightning jumps on sluggish Pens early.
Game 3, Penguins 3, Lightning 2: Pens respond fast after Lightning ties it.
Game 4: Penguins 3, Lightning 2 2OT: James Neal gets the winner on a sharp-angle shot 3:38 into the second overtime.
Saturday: at Pittsburgh, noon, Sun Sports
Monday: at Tampa Bay, TBA * #
April 27: at Pittsburgh, TBA * #
* If necessary # Sun Sports or FSN
Games 5 and 7 on 970-AM Game 6 on 620-AM
The top spot
Lightning GM Steve Yzerman, right, said he did not even realize there was an award for GM of the year. Nevertheless, the first-year Tampa Bay executive is a finalist, along with Vancouver's Mike Gillis and Nashville's Dave Poile. "I was not expecting that," Yzerman said, and proceeded to give more credit to owner Jeff Vinik and CEO Tod Leiweke. "I don't think it's reflective of what I've done but of what Jeff has done and Tod and the players who work hard." The winner, picked by a panel of 40, including all 30 general managers, will be announced in June, 13 months after Yzerman took the job. Just being nominated, Vinik said, is "well-deserved recognition." "I love the position," Yzerman said. "I love what I do. It's a great challenge."
Home sweet home
Taking a cue from the 2004 Stanley Cup team, W Marty St. Louis is spending game days in Tampa at a hotel near the St. Pete Times Forum.
"It's a 50-minute commute (home)," St. Louis said. "I don't want to be in a car for 50 minutes." Tampa Bay players stayed in a downtown hotel during the 2004 final against Calgary. That was as much for camaraderie as anything. But St. Louis, who like most players takes a pregame nap, said he does it "for the rest."