Lecavalier wallows in a rare slump

As the Lightning struggles to win, its top player endures his longest point drought since 2005.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer
Published January 18, 2008

Vinny Lecavalier looks down during Tuesday's loss, which marked his third straight game without a point and fourth without a goal.
	[Dirk Shadd | Times]

PITTSBURGH - Vinny Lecavalier did not need Wednesday's two-hour video critique of the loss to the Avalanche to know he isn't playing well.

The Lightning's star center said he can feel it on the ice.

"As I'm playing the game, I realize I'm not putting any pressure on them at all," he said of opposing defenses. "I'm just standing on the outside. You do that, and you're not going to get anything."

That is exactly what has happened.

At a time when the Lightning is straining to stay in the playoff race, when it needs its best player to produce, Lecavalier has hit a skid.

For most players, ordinary players, this would be a blip. But for Lecavalier, tied for the league lead with 63 points, three games with zero points is his longest drought since a four-game stretch Nov. 22-27, 2005. Four games without a goal is his longest since a seven-game streak Nov. 15-26, 2006.

"When Vinny's on top of his game, he's the best in the league," coach John Tortorella said.

But he also is minus-5 in his past 13 games. And Lecavalier, 27, captain of the East All-Star team, admitted feeling the pressure.

"Oh, yeah, definitely," he said. "But I've always been like that since I was a kid. I don't necessarily listen to the outside pressure, but I put a lot of pressure on myself. I just hope the results will be there."

So does the Lightning, which is 10 points out of the Southeast lead and 10 out of the East's final playoff spot and tonight faces Sidney Crosby and the red-hot Penguins at Mellon Arena.

Lecavalier said the problem is he is not skating when he has the puck, meaning he is not creating time, space and shooting alleys by challenging opponents and forcing them to react.

A lack of skating also means a lack of contact, and banging bodies, Lecavalier said, is a great way to get into a game.

"With or without the puck, that's important," he said. "I tried it in Thursday's practice. I tried to skate more and be more aggressive and make the D make decisions and try to back them off. You try to go around guys. I haven't done that in the past few games. When you do that, you are automatically more into the game and more physical."

Lecavalier, lately, has gotten little help from linemates Vinny Prospal and Marty St. Louis, who haven't scored in three games. And at Thursday's practice, St. Louis was on Brad Richards' line and Jason Ward was Lecavalier's right wing.

"He's been carrying us," Prospal said of Lecavalier, who has 28 goals and 35 assists. "We're half the team without his scoring. But it falls on everybody. We have to provide him with the puck so he can get scoring chances. The last couple of games, our line really hasn't been that good, so it's not just his fault."

"We have a lot of character guys here who want to turn it around," Lecavalier said. "We're here to produce. We're not doing it right now, but I'm confident we're going to come out strong."

He can feel it.

NEW ARRIVAL: St. Louis and wife Heather on Wednesday had their third child, and third boy, Mason Normand, 7 pounds, 6 ounces.

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

[Last modified January 17, 2008, 23:10:22]