Lecavalier returns to power at point

Coach agrees to give Vinny a chance ... but only if the center takes his shots.

By TOM JONES
Published January 15, 2006

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Vinny Lecavalier loves to play the point on the power play. Absolutely loves it.

For the past three years, however, Lightning coach John Tortorella wasn't as crazy about the idea.

But considering the Lightning has scored as many power-play goals in the past seven games as the Harlem Globetrotters (uh, that would be none), Tortorella is willing to try anything.

So he made a deal with Lecavalier. He can play the point under one condition: He must shoot the puck.

"That's the deal we made," Tortorella said. "A verbal deal. If you shoot the puck, you'll stay there. If you don't, we'll put you back down on the wall somewhere."

The Lightning's power play didn't score a goal Friday night and its drought is 0-for-32 and 2-for-the-past-56. But for the first time in a while it showed some life and it might have something to do with Lecavalier manning the right point.

At least Tortorella liked how it looked.

"Vinny on the point is a pretty interesting thing we're going to continue to look at," Tortorella said. "He's going to get more time there. He gives you a shot."

He also gives the Lightning options. Putting Lecavalier on the point makes sense. He is one of the best stick-handlers and passers in the league and has a booming slap shot to go with it - the perfect ingredients.

While he lines up on the right point, his goal is to get to the middle of the ice where he has three options. He can pass to his right to set up a one-timer for Brad Richards. He can pass to his left to set up a one-timer for Pavel Kubina. Or he can blast away himself.

"A big part of the power play is getting to the middle of the ice with the puck and not just playing on the wall, playing along the boards where (opponents) can be aggressive," Tortorella said.

Lecavalier is excited about the appointment. He played the point during his junior days and during his second season with Lightning in 1999-2000. He was good to go after the first power play Friday.

"The first shift I was a little nervous because, you know, you're the last guy (on defense)," he said. "But after that, we had a couple of good chances."

The experiment might not last long, but then again, Tortorella is willing to stick with anything that resembles success with the way the Lightning power play is going. Or not going.

"We'll just continue to plow away," Tortorella said. "And maybe some good things will happen."

[Last modified January 15, 2006, 01:48:18]