Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Lightning midseason report card

It has been a half-season of extremes for the Lightning. The goaltending has been some of the league's best, and the goal-scoring has been almost the worst. The team is above .500 at home and against the West, and well below on the road and against the East. Tampa Bay's grades, based on individual expectations, reflect those disparities. Underachievers still have 41 games to improve.

GOALTENDERS

Nikolai Khabibulin -- A -- Return to elite status has carried team.

Kevin Weekes -- A -- Made most of backup role; terrific attitude.

DEFENSEMEN

Mathieu Biron -- C+ -- Good passer, great potential.

Jassen Cullimore -- B -- Steady, plays within himself; leads in hits.

Pavel Kubina -- C -- Leads in minutes, blocked shots. Lack of goals, defensive lapses hurt.

Grant Ledyard -- C+ -- Steady after a bad start, but no offense.

Stan Neckar -- B -- Slow start, but solid in stay-at-home role.

Nolan Pratt -- B -- Added a needed physical presence.

Cory Sarich -- C- -- Inconsistent positioning; needs to be more physical.

FORWARDS

Dave Andreychuk -- B- -- Inconsistent offense, but leadership, faceoffs, penalty killing a plus.

Zdeno Ciger -- D -- Can pass in traffic, but defensive liability with 1 goal.

Ben Clymer -- C+ -- Eight goals in new position, but needs consistency and must get to net.

Gordie Dwyer -- C -- Gives everything he has in limited role.

Brian Holzinger -- D -- Injury took toll, but more offense was expected.

Sheldon Keefe -- B -- Energetic, gritty and gets to the net; has to finish.

Vinny Lecavalier -- D -- Knew what was expected and didn't produce. And can he win a faceoff?

Fredrik Modin -- B -- Plays hurt, a warrior, though goals are down.

Jimmie Olvestad -- B- -- Plus-4 is good for rookies; if he could only score.

Vinny Prospal -- B- -- Might score 20 and can win faceoffs, but defense a question mark.

Brad Richards -- C -- Might match rookie totals but more expected; can lose focus; faceoffs are terrible.

Martin St. Louis -- B -- Tireless, committed and plus-7; an honest player.

Tim Taylor -C -- Terrific on faceoffs and good defensively but needs to create more offense.

Juha Ylonen -- C- -- Has speed and good enough shot to score more; faceoffs disappointing.

COACHING

John Tortorella -- C+ -- Has right message, but results are mixed and hasn't convinced everyone to buy in.

MANAGEMENT

Rick Dudley -C -- Offseason moves were good, considering budget restraints, but counting on Andrei Zyuzin as a rushing defenseman was a mistake, and team still needs grit, scoring wing.

OWNERSHIP

Palace Sports -- F -- Show us the money.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright