Lightning try to get on a roll against Panthers

Hockey Betting Lines

12/26/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Lightning will aim for back-to-back wins for the first time since early November when they visit the Florida Panthers for tonight's Southeast Division battle at BankAtlantic Center.

This is the opener of a home-and-home series as the Panthers will also visit the Lightning on Saturday.

The Lightning last posted consecutive victories during a three-game winning streak from October 28-November 1, but have gone just 4-13-6 in 23 games since.

Tampa is last in the Southeast with 25 points, while the Panthers are third in the division with 36 points.

The Bolts ended a three-game losing streak with Tuesday's road victory in Pittsburgh. Mike Smith needed to stop just 15 shots to record his second shutout of the season as Tampa Bay tripped up the Penguins, 2-0, at Mellon Arena.

Matt Pettinger and Paul Szczechura scored for the Lightning, who won for only the eighth time all season -- the fewest wins for any team in the league.

It was just the third victory for the Lightning under interim head coach Rick Tocchet, who took over for the fired Barry Melrose over a month ago. Tampa is just 3-9-5 since the coaching change.

Tampa is just 5-10-3 as the visiting team this year and is wrapping a three-game road trip tonight. The Bolts have lost 10 of their last 12 away from Tampa.

The Panthers, meanwhile, will be shooting for their third straight win tonight. Florida has notched back-to-back shutout victories, beating Colorado, 3-0, on Sunday and defeating Nashville by the same score on Tuesday.

Tomas Vokoun made 27 saves to record his second consecutive shutout and the 28th whitewashing of his career, as Florida downed the Predators at BankAtlantic Center.

Vokoun has three shutouts this season and is 8-10-1 with a .921 save percentage and 2.58 goals against average. He is likely to get the call again tonight. The Panthers have never shut out the opposition in three straight games.

Rookie Michael Frolik scored twice for the Panthers, who are 8-2-1 over their last 11 games.

Kamil Kreps added an assist and has one goal and five helpers during a five-game point streak. The 24-year-old forward has just one goal and seven assists on the season.

The Panthers are 8-4-2 as the host this year and have won two straight and three of four home tests.

Florida is 2-0 against the Lightning this year, winning a 4-0 home decision on November 12 before posting a shootout victory in Tampa less than a week later. The Panthers have taken four of five and six of the last nine encounters and Tampa has dropped two straight and six of seven in Sunrise.

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Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

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