The Lightning is winning, so Vinny Lecavalier insists his lack of scoring shouldn't be a topic of discussion.
By BRANT JAMES
Published April 16, 2004
TAMPA - Vinny Lecavalier said there is no story here.
"I don't know why we're talking about this," he said, arms crossed.
If the top-seeded Lightning's East quarterfinal series with the Islanders were tied, rather than tilting 3-1 toward Tampa Bay, there might be something here. But, the Lightning center said, it does not matter at all that he has no points and is a minus-1 in 18:27 minutes per game in the playoffs as long as his team is one win from advancing to the semifinals.
It also doesn't frustrate him that the rest of the Lightning's top scorers in the regular season have found ways to overcome the pesky Islanders' forecheck as the series continues with Game 5 tonight at the St. Pete Times Forum.
Right wing Martin St. Louis (94 points, 38 goals) has three goals, including a short-hander in a 3-0 win in Game 4 on Wednesday, four points and is plus-4. Left wing Fredrik Modin (57 regular-season points) has three goals and five points and is plus-3. Center Brad Richards (80 regular-season points) has a goal and five points and is plus-4.
"If I had three assists would you be asking me these questions?" Lecavalier said. "I'm feeling good. I'm playing good. Obviously, I do want to score, but I'm feeling good."
In fairness, left wing Cory Stillman, who had 80 points, is scoreless and has an even rating, but he played just one shift on Wednesday after getting injured.
"The fact is, it's 3-1 right now," said Lecavalier, who had 66 regular-season points and was second with 32 goals. "I'm really happy. I think it's going to come. I'm playing hard. I think I'm playing a pretty solid game right now. I'm happy with myself."
The Lightning coaching staff seems a bit more concerned. Associate coach Craig Ramsay, while complimenting Lecavalier's effort - especially on the power play - early in the series said "we need him to get back to the very basics of the game."
"We need him using his speed, driving himself to the net, using that big shot," Ramsay said. "Once he skates it down the ice and shoots, all kinds of good things happen."
Lecavalier thrived this season when he meshed his offensive creativity to the Lighting's gnashing style, creating opportunities and exploiting them with his obvious physical tools. He has displayed that creativity in the playoffs by attempting to set up the big shot with fancy stickwork, highlight-reel stuff if the puck ends up in the net. But it hasn't, yet.
"If I scored on that play you'd ask me (about the goal)," he said. "I went with my instincts and that's the play I try to do. I'm not trying to get away from anything. I was skating. I went with my instincts. I'm not going to take that away from my game."
Coach John Tortorella stopped well short of criticizing Lecavalier, saying players must "keep their edge" and the playoffs are a "matter of battles and intensity and fighting through things."
"He needs something good to happen," Ramsay said, "and really, the best way to do that is to go out there and make it happen."
