TAMPA - No offense, Lightning fans, but the Lightning wants to play in front of some other team's fans for a change.
"We need to get out of here," coach John Tortorella said.
It's not as bad as it sounds. Tortorella and the team just can't wait to break the monotony of playing at home. After playing nine of its first 11 at the St. Pete Times Forum and not taking a regular-season road trip longer than one game or two days, the Lightning hit the road late Saturday for its first extended trip of the season.
The team will be gone until Saturday with three games beginning this afternoon against Carolina.
"We knew this would be tough when we saw the schedule, but I give my team a lot of respect for keeping their focus," Tortorella said. "But the boys are ready to get out and we could use the chance to bond a bit as a team."
To that end, the Lightning has planned some team-building exercises and outings for this trip, including a tour of the White House when the team is in Washington to play the Capitals.
"It's nice to play at home, but you hate to play too many games in a short time at home, and that's what we've done," forward Fredrik Modin said. "We're looking forward to going."
LINING UP: When Modin looks to his right these days, he likes what he sees. For the fourth consecutive game, Modin played with center Vinny Lecavalier and right wing Dmitry Afanasenkov.
And Tortorella likes what he sees from that line, which probably has been the team's best over the past week.
"I think Mo has been waiting for a chance," Tortorella said, "and he is trying to jump on this opportunity."
Modin came into Saturday with only one goal in 10 games, but the line is getting chances.
"That's what you look for: chances," Modin said. "Usually it takes a little while for a line to get used to one another and start clicking, but because we've gotten some good chances, our confidence is up and we've clicked a little quicker than normal."
They clicked early Saturday when Modin picked up his second goal on an assist from Afanasenkov in the first period.
DUDLEY DO RIGHT: Florida general manager Rick Dudley, the former Lightning GM, can't help but notice what his old team is doing. And though he left under less-than-ideal circumstances, Dudley admitted to being "proud" of his former team.
"They're a good hockey team," Dudley said. "They have some guys who are starting to believe they are pressure players. They understand they can make a difference and they do."
ODDS AND ENDS: The Penguins' Mario Lemieux was scratched because a pulled muscle in his left hip. ... The three Lightning healthy scratches were forwards Martin Cibak and Andre Roy and defenseman Darren Rumble. ... The Lightning's Ruslan Fedotenko took 16 stitches in the forehead after being struck by a puck in the first period, but returned.
