ATLANTA - The way Lightning coach John Tortorella sees it, Martin St. Louis is getting held up ... literally.
While Tortorella said it ultimately is the responsibility of players to deal with situations on the ice, the coach said more attention should be paid to the clutching, grabbing and stick work being used to slow the Lightning right wing.
"We're not whining about it," Tortorella said Wednesday. "But with this guy, with the way he can skate and the way he's playing right now, that's how some people have an opportunity to stop him. I think because it happens so much, not enough is being called.
"I go back to the old Philadelphia Flyers mentality. You do it enough times, you're going to get away with it more often than not. Do it 10 times and you'll get away with it eight, and I think that's happening."
St. Louis, whose 72 points are two behind league-leader Robert Lang of Washington, said he is not the only player affected.
"I really feel in the league they're slowing down players in the neutral zone," he said. "That's not just me, it's everybody. I wish that was called more strictly."
St. Louis has endured more than obstruction. He has been roughed up, face-washed and cross-checked, many times without penalties called.
"I try to keep my head up and worry about just understanding where everybody is on the ice," St. Louis said. "Sometimes it's frustrating. I'm not the kind of guy who's going to get up and say, "Thank you.' I have a stick too, and I try to create myself some room by using it.
"Obviously I'm not going to fight the big guys, but I try to not back down from anything, but don't fall into the trap of them trying to get me in the penalty box."
Tortorella's solution: "The game needs to be called with what's happening on the ice, and consistently," he said. "If it happens 10 times, I don't want them to call it twice. I think that still goes on in the league, especially with that guy."
CULLIMORE HURT: Defenseman Jassen Cullimore missed most of Wednesday's third period with a shoulder injury. He is questionable for tonight's game against the Maple Leafs.
MADDENING SITUATION: Defenseman Nolan Pratt said he is "very, very unhappy" and "very, very disappointed" at being scratched in 13 consecutive games since the acquisition of Darryl Sydor.
"I don't want to get into a situation where I'm causing a distraction to the team," Pratt said. "But we were playing well, and I thought I was playing well. I feel like I can play and want to be part of things. It's not the same when you're not playing. That's what it comes down to, just wanting to play and participate and contribute."
"I expect him to be mad, but being mad doesn't get you back in the lineup," Tortorella said. "I like what Nolan Pratt did, he played well for us. But I believe Darryl Sydor is a better player and Darryl Sydor is going to play. He can be mad. It doesn't bother me as long as it doesn't come into a situation where it's an attitude within our locker room."
Pratt, who has a goal and an assist and is plus-5 in 49 games, said he will continue to work hard while waiting for a chance to get back in the lineup.
"I'm just not happy about it," Pratt said. "He knows that. He wouldn't expect me to be."
MINOR TRADE: The Lightning acquired defenseman Timo Helbling from the Predators for an eighth-round pick in this year's draft. Helbling, 22, the 162nd pick of 1999, had two assists and 46 penalty minutes in 37 games for AHL Milwaukee. The 6-foot-3, 209-pounder was assigned to AHL Utah.
PLAYER APPEARANCE: St. Louis signs autographs at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Dillard's at International Plaza in Tampa.
ODDS AND ENDS: The league suspended Capitals defenseman Rick Berry for Wednesday's game against the Hurricanes for spearing Lightning center Martin Cibak between his legs Monday. Berry will lose $2,520.83. ... Defenseman Darren Rumble and left wing Andre Roy were scratched.
