LIGHTNING STRIKES KINGS AGAIN; TAMPA BAY MAKES ITSELF AT HOME IN HOSPITABLE FORUM : TAMPA BAY 3 KINGS 0.

Byline: Greg Christensen

Most teams in the NHL welcome Tampa Bay into their arenas with open arms. After all, the Lightning has had but one winning season in its six-year existence.

But storm warnings go up when the Lightning comes to Los Angeles. The Forum has become a home away from home of sorts for lowly Tampa Bay.

The Lightning, the NHL's worst team last season, picked up its first road win of the season Friday by defeating the Kings 3-0 before 10,968.

The victory improved Tampa Bay's record at the Forum to an amazing 6-1 and completed a season sweep of the Kings. Los Angeles dropped a 3-2 decision at Tampa Bay on Oct. 23.

``It's unbelievable,'' said Kings coach Larry Robinson of his team's record against Tampa Bay.

But defenseman Philippe Boucher said the Kings (4-4-2) certainly weren't looking past the Lightning (4-5-1).

``We struggled for a few years too and know we are good team,'' he said. ``They are a good team too and deserve respect. You have to respect everybody, you just can't say you are going to go and beat anybody.''

With the Kings offense - minus last year's leading scorer Jozef Stumpel - struggling mightily, Los Angeles was depending on its defense and rookie goalie Manny Legace in the team's first home game since returning from a five-game East Coast swing.

Legace, who came into the game with a league-leading .966 save percentage, and the defense were doing just fine until early in the third period when Sean O'Donnell failed to touch a puck and gain an icing call.

The Kings couldn't clear the zone and Daymond Langkow made them pay when he bounced in his rebound shot off the shoulder of Legace with 18:34 left in the game.

That goal and empty-netters in the final minute by Darcy Tucker and Cory Cross, proved to be more than enough as the Kings were limited to two goals or less for the seventh time in 10 games. Los Angeles has scored more than three goals in a game only twice thus far this season.

But Robinson, who at times this season has complained about the Kings' effort level, had no complaints Friday.

``I thought we played real hard,'' he said. ``For the most part we had some great chances and (Tampa Bay goalie Darren) Puppa came up big.''

One thing that does concern Robinson is the lack of depth at center for the Kings, who were outshot 28-27.

``We are small down the middle and that's starting to show,'' he said. ``That's where we really miss Stumpy. Our guys are getting pushed away like little flies.''

After a snail-paced first period, the action picked up in the second, but neither offense could muster a goal.

Both teams came close, but Legace and Puppa made sure the game remained scoreless.

The Kings' Yanic Perreault had an open net to shoot at for a moment early in the period after getting a nice pass from Vladimir Tsyplakov, but Puppa went post-to-post to make the save.

Tampa Bay's best chance came on a weak shot by Andrei Nazarov. Legace had trouble controlling the rebound, but he bent over backward to keep the puck from rolling over the goal line.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

Photo: (1--Color) The Kings' Glen Murray, left, tries to steal the puck from the Lightning's Darcy Tucker.

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

(2) CORY CROSS

He and Darcy Tucker scored on empty-netters with less than a minute left to help lift the Lightning to victory at the Forum.