Lightning/NHL

Flying Feaster lands in middle of Playoffland

By TOM JONES
Published April 19, 2006

TAMPA - Lightning general manager Jay Feaster was sky-high when the Lightning clinched a playoff spot Monday night. Literally.

Feaster was flying from Springfield, Mass., back to Tampa as the Caps were eliminating the Thrashers and putting the Lightning into the playoffs.

"I literally touched down and turned on the phone and had a message from my daughter that Washington had won," Feaster said. "Then a series of text messages came from a bunch of people.

"It's great. It has been a long season. I've said all along that I do believe this hockey club has the ability ... to elevate their play. And now we get a clean slate."

GETTING THE CALL: The Lightning is expected to call up a taxi squad of reserves from minor-league Springfield for the playoffs. The players expected to be recalled are forwards Nick Tarnasky, Darren Reid, Norm Milley, Jason Jaspers, Zdenek Blatny, Marek Kvapil and Mitch Fritz, defenseman Doug O'Brien and goaltender Gerald Coleman.

The team will practice separately from the Lightning in Brandon under the coaching of Springfield assistant Darren Rumble.

Speaking of Rumble, he is expected to remain as an assistant in Springfield after coach Dirk Graham was removed on Monday, along with assistant Phil Russell. Feaster said the organization is high on Rumble, but Rumble will not be a candidate for the coach opening in Springfield.

Feaster said is looking for someone with head coaching experience behind the bench in Springfield next season.

That would eliminate former Lightning captain Dave Andreychuk. Not that Andreychuk is interested.

"He is not looking to coach," Feaster said.

DRIVE SOUTH: Turns out, the Southeast Division had a good season and likely will get better in future years.

"Our division has gotten stronger," Lightning coach John Tortorella said. "You have Carolina at the top of the conference. You have us in the playoffs. Atlanta (was) fighting to get into the playoffs. Florida was nipping for a bit. So our division has strengthened. It's no longer that weak Southeast Division that people laughed about. And Washington is right there. There are going to be some good things coming from that club."

ODDS AND ENDS: Caps goalie Olie Kolzig missed Tuesday's game because his father died of a sudden heart attack Monday after Kolzig led Washington past Atlanta. Axel Kolzig, 64, passed away at home in British Columbia. ... As a precaution, defenseman Pavel Kubina (lower body) and forward Vinny Prospal (upper body) were scratched Tuesday.

[Last modified April 19, 2006, 01:59:13]