Offense getting a lesson red line can be best friend

By TOM JONES
Published October 12, 2005

BRANDON - The following story is true. The names have been changed to protect the guilty. (And because coach John Tortorella would not get into the specifics of names.)

The Lightning won a faceoff in its own zone Monday against Boston. A Lightning defenseman picked up the puck and looked to make a pass, but the right wing, center and left wing all made a mad dash up the ice. All three blew past the red line, hoping to take advantage of the new rule allowing two-line passes.

But the defenseman had no one to pass to. He panicked and just threw the puck up the ice. Boston intercepted and nearly turned the turnover into a goal.

Tortorella figures that is one of about 15 or 20 times the Lightning tried an unsuccessful "home-run pass" in Monday's game, a discouraging 4-2 loss to the Bruins.

Enough is enough. Tortorella has put the red line back in play for the Lightning.

"I don't give a (darn) what the rule says," Tortorella said, "we don't have to play without the red line. ... I think we're standing still wanting pucks to get to us by being on the other side of that red line."

So during a fast-paced practice Tuesday, Lightning players went back to playing as if the old rule still exists. It forces players to stay in the defensive zone to help backcheck. And, instead of one player hoping for a breakaway, the Lightning can get the puck out of its zone properly and attack as a unit in the other team's zone.

"I think the new rules have played with the minds of some players, especially our offensive people," Tortorella said. "We're going to instill the red line at times in the game. ... Our guys are going to play with it just to get them to come back (to the defensive zone). And we knew it was going to happen with these new rules. It's a process, especially for our offensive people."

WHAT'S GOING ON?: There are a couple of ways to look at the Lightning's start.

On one hand, it has struggled in all areas and still is 2-2. On the other hand, it has struggled in all areas and is only 2-2.

Is it the beginning of a troubling trend? Or is it simply a little slump that every team has now and then?

But the real question is: Is the Lightning concerned?

"I think we're aware of the way we're playing," forward Fredrik Modin said. "We're not playing up to the way we know we can and to the way we want to play. Obviously, every time that happens, there's a reason for concern.

"But I don't think we need to panic. We're just going to have to make the adjustments to find our way back."

The bad news is the Lightning can't point to just one problem.

"It's a little bit of everything," Modin said. "It's a lot of small details we need to get fixed."

The good news?

"It all can be fixed," Modin said. "Now we just have to go out and do it."

SLOW HAND: The worst thing a goalie can have is a slow hand. But that's what Sean Burke has. Well, on his mask.

Burke is a huge rock 'n' roll fan, and his mask last season featured one of his idols: Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page.

His new Lightning mask has Page on one side, and another legendary guitarist on the other side: Slow Hand Eric Clapton.

"Pretty cool, huh?" Burke said. "The artist did a nice job with it."

HE SORT OF SAID IT: Defenseman Dan Boyle is still talking with a fat lip after taking 24 stitches in the chin after he was hit with a puck on Saturday. He doesn't look too bad, however, because he rarely uses a razor.

"It's a good thing I have a beard," he said.

[Last modified October 12, 2005, 00:19:18]