Lecavalier relishes record goal

He calls beating out Brian Bradley "pretty cool.''

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published March 8, 2007

EDMONTON - Vinny Lecavalier didn't want it to sound bad, but he said beating out Brian Bradley was "pretty cool."

"He's a great guy," Lecavalier added.

"He's always helping me. He had a great career, so it's an honor to go past him."

Lecavalier's goal Tuesday against Vancouver was his team-record 43rd and surpassed the mark he held with Bradley, who had 42 in Tampa Bay's inaugural 1992-93 season.

Bradley said he left a message on Lecavalier's cell phone Wednesday morning to offer congratulations. The two spoke later in the day.

"I told him he's been a great player for the franchise and the team and he's been a classy guy," Bradley said from Tampa. "I was very, very excited for him."

Lecavalier, who scored twice Wednesday to move four goals ahead of Ottawa's Dany Heatley for the league lead, said winning the Rocket Richard Trophy as top goal scorer would be an honor but not something about which he is losing sleep.

"My goal is to finish strong and produce as much as I can," he said. "The more I score, the more it helps the team. So yes, I do want to keep it up and finish strong."

KUBA SCRATCHED: Defenseman Filip Kuba was scratched for the first time this season, lending credence to coach John Tortorella's proclamation that no one is safe from scrutiny as the team evaluates a 24-player roster.

Kuba played just 16:19 against the Canucks, more than four minutes less than his season average.

Signed last summer to a three-year, $9-million contract, he has 10 goals and 31 points but just three goals and two assists in his past 28 games.

IN THE HOUSE: Left wing Nick Tarnasky, who grew up in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, about 140 miles from Edmonton, said playing in front of about 15 family and friends was "like coming home for me."

Defenseman Nolan Pratt, who grew up in Fort McMurray, about 250 miles to the north, said he had seven family and friends in the stands.

HE'S NO. 6: The Hockey News in its March 13 edition ranks Tampa Bay's Jay Feaster the sixth-best NHL general manager. Detroit's Ken Holland was No. 1. St. Louis' Larry Pleau was last.

Feaster was No. 1 among NHL GMs and No. 2 in all of sports in Forbes magazine.

ODDS AND ENDS: Forwards Kyle Wanvig and Karl Stewart were the Lightning's other healthy scratches. ... Left wing Andre Roy played his second straight game after recovering from back spasms.

Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@sptimes.com.

[Last modified March 8, 2007, 01:59:55]