The power-play personnel possibly to be out of puck
By BRANT JAMES
Published December 30, 2003
TAMPA - Coach John Tortorella said Monday morning the Lightning's woeful recent output on the power play could prompt a shift in personnel. Scorers could be out; grinders could be in.
Tampa Bay's ineffective 0-for-7 effort in a 2-0 loss to Anaheim Monday night gives him more to think about, as the Lightning is scoreless in its past 15 chances and 7-for-93 in the past 20 games.
"That's going to happen sooner or later," he said, "because the grinders have more of a mentality to get the puck, get it back to the point. We're trying to allow our guys to regain some confidence offensively. Sometimes you allow it too long and it festers."
Three of Tampa Bay's first four power plays lasted less than the full two minutes. On the first, defenseman Dan Boyle had to commit a hooking penalty to keep Steve Rucchin from starting a two-on-none break, but Rucchin was able to pass to Sergei Fedorov, who was stopped by goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin. In a 4-2 victory over Boston on Saturday, the Lightning led 3-2 late in the third and had a five-minute advantage in which to find the clincher but looked timid. Boston crafted two dangerous rushes, and Joe Thornton had a shot hit the crossbar.
"We were trying to be safe and careful, and that never works," said associate coach Craig Ramsay, who runs special teams.
TOO MUCH: It seems basic enough. Five skaters come off the ice, five go on. But the Lightning occasionally has had maddening problems changing lines, resulting in nine two-minute penalties for too many players on the ice. Most of the time, as was the case against Boston, it did not result in a goal, but it frustrates Tortorella. "What's happening there is they're coming to the bench and the play starts coming back at us and they feel they have to turn back and get in it," he said. "And our players (coming onto the ice) see the guy coming to the bench and automatically take their eyes off the player and start getting involved in the play coming off the bench." The penalties have resulted in just two goals, one costly. Nov. 29 at Southeast Division-leading Atlanta, J.P. Vigier scored on the power play with five minutes left for a 2-1 win. Lightning opponents have been been whistled for the infraction five times.
SLAP SHOTS:Center Dave Andreychuk tied Detroit Hall of Famer Alex Delvecchio for seventh on the games-played list with 1,549. ... Bruins wing Martin Lapointe was suspended for one game for high-sticking Brad Lukowich on Saturday. ... Martin St. Louis will do his weekly talk show tonight on WDAE-AM 620, 7-7:30, from Westfield Shoppingtown in Brandon. He will sign autographs from 7:30-8. ... Forwards Ben Clymer and Chris Dingman and defenseman Darren Rumble were healthy scratches.
