Zenon Konopka News

Betts, who had just one goal in his previous 16 games this season, scored on an in-close redirection with 9:59 to play to give the Flyers a 3-2 lead.

Is James Wright about to embark on a hockey IQ program similar to the one Steven Stamkos went through last season? Wright, 19, was scratched for the first time Wednesday, and coach Rick Tocchet said the rookie forward needs a little on-ice "teaching time." The issue is working smarter rather than harder.

The long and winding road through four time zones finally comes to an end today, but there have been some bumps and bruises along the way.

There are days, Zenon Konopka admitted - like the one in Detroit when his neck and wrist were packed in ice and he could not speak clearly because of the stitches in his mouth - that he wonders what his body will feel like at age 50.

Jimmy Howard made 30 saves for his first NHL shutout, and Drew Miller, Todd Bertuzzi and Patrick Eaves scored to help Detroit beat Tampa Bay, 3-0. Tampa Bay Lightning center Zenon Konopka flips the puck away from Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Detroit, Thursday, Dec.

WHAT HAPPENED: Wings forward Drew Miller opened the scoring in the first period by taking a long pass from Brian Rafalski, skating in and scoring on a backhand as goaltender Mike Smith attempted a pokecheck.

Shortly after Thanksgiving, the Tampa Bay Lightning crushed the New York Rangers 5-1 to improve to four games over .500 for the first time in three years.

Looking back, Todd Fedoruk said, fighting Thrashers tough guy Eric Boulton in the first game of the season was "stupid." At the time, he believed he had no other option.

Zack Stortini scored his third goal of the season and had two fights in Edmonton's 3-2 win against Tampa Bay.

To say Todd Fedoruk is excited is an understatement. The Tamp Bay Lightning left wing gets in his first action tonight against the Oilers after nine straight games as a healthy scratch, and it sounds as if he wants to play like a kid again.

But when it comes to the start of their respective rookie seasons, there is no comparison.

"You don't want to get hit with that shot. He's got one of the hardest shots in the league, probably one of the hardest shots I've seen." - C Steven Stamkos, on D Kurtis Foster 's 101.5 mph slap shot Family anthem C Zenon Konopka said he wants his sister, Cynthia , to sing the national anthem at a Lightning home game and said he will talk to the ...

A "change of scenery." That is how Lightning coach Rick Tocchet described an interesting personnel move Friday night against the Devils as he put captain Vinny Lecavalier on left wing for a couple of shifts with C Paul Szczechura and Steve Downie .

Considering it was supposed to be a minor inconvenience, the suspected right ankle injury of D Mattias Ohlund has been a major pain.

Steven Stamkos told himself before Sunday's game with the Thrashers he was going to be involved from the first shift.

Todd Fedoruk, left, has interesting body art and a big family. [DANIEL WALLACE Times] No friends on ice Not many are courageous enough to take on the Wild's Derek Boogaard , below, a 6-foot-8, 257-pound mountain known as a devastating puncher.

Nitti on Niitty: Gangster Frank is on goalie Antero's mask. [DANIEL WALLACE Times] Keeping suspect company Lightning G Antero Niittymaki has shunned the artistic interpretations of dragons and bikini-clad women generally found on the side of goaltenders' masks for one of the usual suspects: former Chicago gangster Frank Nitti .

Tampa Bay coach Rick Tocchet hopes his team learned an important lesson. Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos celebrates with teammate Zenon Konopka after scoring the game-winning goal in a shootout against the Minnesota Wild during an NHL hockey game Thursday, Nov.

Being the proprietor of a local restaurant/bar while playing for the 67's was not without its perks for Zenon Konopka.

"Low maintenance" is how his parents, Lynne and Lorne, described him. "Boring but good," Lynne said, laughing.