Olympic break could be beneficial
By TOM JONES
Published February 13, 2006
Judging by its 10-2-1 record in the past 13 games, the Lightning, it seems, could not be running into the Olympic break at a worse time.
Don't be so sure.
The Lightning is out of gas and could use two weeks to refuel.
Despite victories against Carolina and Boston, the Lightning appeared slow, especially against the speedy Hurricanes.
"Carolina is a fast team, no doubt about it," coach John Tortorella said. "But we were slow, too. It was really evident. They made us look really slow. We looked tired. They were trying. The effort was there. They just couldn't get there."
Though the Lightning controlled most of the play against the Bruins on Saturday, there were moments when, again, the team appeared to be running on empty.
No group could use the rest more than the defense, which isn't the fastest corps in the league anyway. The same six defensemen have played almost exclusively all season, and the long grind is starting to take its toll. The rest will do them good.
Tortorella has coached with the break in mind. He has used three lines instead of four more than usual in recent games. He has double-shifted stars such as Vinny Lecavalier and Brad Richards more than normal. He has practically bruised defenseman Dan Boyle 's shoulder by tapping it so much to go on the ice the past two weeks. No wonder they look tired.
He would not have done those things if there weren't a break coming up. It's true many of his stars won't be getting a break because they will be in Italy for the Olympics, but they won't play the 20 to 25 minutes they play here. Not with a roster full of stars getting equal playing time.
In addition, Tortorella, throughout the season, has given the team more days off than in recent years because he knew the Olympics could take a toll.
Everything the Lightning has done until now was done with the break in mind. When the break is over, we'll see if it worked.
LEFTOVERS FROM SATURDAY'S VICTORY AT BOSTON: Saturday's 6-5 win was only the third time in team history it gave up five goals and won. The first time was Nov.7, 1992, when it beat the Islanders in overtime. That was the 16th game in franchise history. That was also the game in which defenseman Doug Crossman picked up six points, including a hat trick and the overtime winner. His six points in one game remain a Lightning record.
The other victory when giving up five goals was an 8-5 game against the Thrashers on Oct.8, 2002.
Saturday, Vinny Prospal had two goals but was a minus-3. Linemates Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis also were a minus-3. Meantime, rookie defenseman Paul Ranger played only 13 minutes, 35 seconds (the least amount of ice time he has had in 10 games) but was a plus-3.
TAMPA BAY TRIO: With limited practice time before the men's hockey tournament starts, Canada coach Pat Quinn knows it's important to pair players who are familiar with one another. So don't be surprised if forwards Lecavalier, St. Louis and Richards play on the same line in Turin.
"It's certainly a possibility," Quinn said when he was in town two weeks ago. "We didn't use them much together at the start of the 2004 World Cup, but, in this case, we're not going to have a lot of opportunity to develop team chemistry."
The Lightning guys are all for it.
"I'd love it," Lecavalier said. "We know each other so well. I've played with Brad since I was 14 years old. And Marty and I have played a lot together the past couple of years."