Play, nothing else, determines ice time

TAMPA -- Coach John Tortorella does not play favorites or politics with his lineup. Wing Ruslan Fedotenko, an important and controversial acquisition during the summer by general manager Jay Feaster, lost playing time and for awhile was taken off Vinny Lecavalier's line.

Defenseman Brad Lukowich, another of Feaster's summer acquisitions, was benched for two games. Defenseman Pavel Kubina, a "core" player, was benched Monday against the Coyotes.

Tortorella also helped make the call that sent Shane Willis, acquired in the trade for goalie Kevin Weekes, to AHL Springfield despite a one-way contract that pays $615,000.

"Plain and simple, it's not politics," Tortorella said. "Every decision that's been made, as far as this coaching staff is concerned, has been what's best for the hockey team."

That is fine with Feaster.

"We have to check ego concerns and politics concerns at the door and recognize everyone is in this thing together to try to get us into the playoffs," he said. "And the decisions made along the way are made with that purpose and for no other reason."

Tortorella called benchings a last resort.

"That's the only thing we have is ice time," he said. "We can't take their money away. They're not willing to give it back when they play lousy. So the only thing we control is ice time, and, really, they're the ones controlling it by their play."

It is Feaster's "meritocracy" in action.

"The only way this works is if we're committed to doing the right thing," Feaster said. "I want this to be on the merit situation."

"It's something that always should have been here," Tortorella said. "It seems like within the organization, even with some of the players, it's an absolute shock.

"I think it's an important part of the team concept, and that's the way it is."

CLYMER ON THE MOVE: In his continuing search for a power play quarterback, Tortorella said right wing Ben Clymer will get more time at the point.

"He has good puck skills, and he's played defense before," Tortorella said. "So you feel a little more comfortable in case there's a breakdown, and he's got a big shot."

Tampa Bay, which has converted eight of its past 71 power plays (though it has converted 5 of 27), has tried Dan Boyle, Martin St. Louis, Brad Richards, Fedotenko, Lukowich, Kubina and Clymer with inconsistent success.

One problem has been getting shots through to the goal. Tortorella said he would like to see more wrist shots. Slap shots, because of the time they take to deliver, are easier to block.

"You're not going to go out and get a quarterback on the power play. It's not going to happen for us," Tortorella said. "We have to develop one, and that's what we're trying to do."

MODIN HEATING UP?: With two goals off blinding slap shots in his past three games and more power moves to the net, Fredrik Modin is looking more like the player of two seasons ago, when he scored a team-high 32 goals.

"Fredrik Modin isn't a playmaker," Tortorella said. "He needs to be a guy who gets the puck and thinks of one thing, getting some ice to play on and shoot it. We want him to be a power forward."

Modin's 39 shots put him on pace for 223. Tortorella wants him to take 300.

"I'd like to shoot more, but it's about getting into position to shoot," Modin said.

"I don't feel like I've been passing up too many shots."

SVITOV RETURNS: Center Alexander Svitov rejoined the team after a three-game conditioning stint with Springfield.

Svitov had a goal and an assist in Game 3. He and linemates Martin Cibak and Nikita Alexeev combined for six points on a goal and five assists in a 4-1 victory over Providence.

"He got a lot of ice time, power play, penalty kill," Tortorella said. "He played well."