"The word "frustrating" was used a lot in the Lightning locker room Friday.

That's what happens when the topic is a quiescent power play that has converted just 5 of 57 chances in the past 19 games.

"No excuses," right wing Teddy Purcell said. "We have enough players in this locker room to have two successful (power-play units). We just haven't been finding ways to get it done."

This is not a new issue. Tampa Bay's power play entered Friday 28th in the 30-team league at 13.3 percent and last on the road at 8.6 percent. But it deserves to again be spotlighted given the team is desperate to climb into the playoff race and the lack of a power play is killing it.

In Tuesday's 4-3 overtime victory over the Capitals and Thursday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Jets, power-play chances with fewer than 10 minutes remaining in the third period could have broken ties and won the games.

Tampa Bay did get a point against Winnipeg for the regulation tie. But had it won both games without overtime, points would have been denied to two Southeast Division foes ahead of it in the standings.

"It just shows you we could have taken that game," captain Vinny Lecavalier said of the loss to the Jets. "It's (four) minutes left. We get that power play. Those are key moments. That extra point means everything.""