Lightning Advances To Second Round

2003 Playoffs

"It's been a long time coming, no question," Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella said. "There's been some lean years out there. We're hoping we continue to go. You never know how far you're going in the playoffs, but you need to come back and do it again, and that's how you solidify your organization. We don't want this to be a one-year thing -- or a one-series thing."

The Lightning lost the first two games at home, then won four straight to win the best-of-seven series in only the second postseason appearance in team history.

St. Louis scored on a power play after the Capitals were whistled for too many men when Jason Doig got on the ice too soon and found the puck at his stick.

"He just was a little too excited to get out there," Washington coach Bruce Cassidy said. "The way this whole series went, I was sitting in the locker room shaking my head, thinking we found a way to beat ourselves in terms of allowing those calls to be made, I guess. When you look at the way we lost games, sometimes it's just not to be."

The Capitals added another collapse to their playoff legacy, blowing a two-game series lead for the fourth time since 1992 and losing in the first round the third time in a row.

Canucks Force Game 7
Markus Naslund had a goal and two assists as the Vancouver Canucks staved off elimination for the second straight game, beating the St. Louis Blues 4-3 Sunday night to force a decisive Game 7 in the first-round playoff series.

"Momentum can definitely work in your favor," Canucks center Brendan Morrison said. "And I guess we've got it right now."

Mattias Ohlund had a goal and an assist and Henrik Sedin and Ed Jovanoski each scored for the Canucks, who had a 4-1 lead after two periods.

"We made it pretty hard on ourselves in the third period," Canucks center Trevor Linden said. "But all in all we did what we wanted to do and what we wanted to have, and that's an opportunity for a Game 7."

Game 7 is on Tuesday in Vancouver.