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Mr. Puck, meet Mr. Post

By KEVIN KELLY

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 25, 2001

TAMPA -- Pick any spot on a goal post, and Adrian Aucoin probably has bounced a puck off it this season.

That's just been his luck.

"I've probably hit close to 20 posts," the Lightning defenseman said. "Obviously, things haven't been bouncing for me."

Aucoin, acquired from Vancouver on Feb. 7, had gone 31 games without a goal entering the Lightning's Saturday game against Washington at the Ice Palace.

"Adrian has played very well for us," coach John Tortorella said. "I think, eventually, his offense will come. I think he's steadied our blue line. I think that stuff will come as far as his scoring."

But we're speaking of the same player who tied an NHL record for power-play goals by a defenseman when he scored 18 in 1998-99. Denis Potvin did the same in 1975-76 for the Islanders.

His real value though is on defense, where Aucoin was averaging 25 minutes, 35 seconds and had nine assists since being traded.

"There's always an adjustment when you come, and I think now the power play is starting to settle in the right way and I'll definitely be shooting the puck more," Aucoin said. "But it's not something I'm going to base my game around, just hoping that I'm going to score."

HOME ENDORSEMENT: If Tortorella had his way, center Brad Richards would be this year's Calder Trophy winner as the league's top rookie.

Richards had 56 points before the Washington game.

"I think he should be," Tortorella said. "But because we've lost and where we are in the standings, I don't think he will be. I don't think the National Hockey League gives you that when you're struggling as bad as we've done this year."

IT'S STILL THE SAME: As part of the Lightning's "That's My Coach" program, Bucs coach Tony Dungy spoke to a group of more than 150 youth-league coaches and players before the game.

"You guys do a great deal of work, and this is the Lightning's way and the community's way of saying thank you because you are very, very important," Dungy said. "I know many of you will look and say, "It would be great to coach in a Super Bowl or great to coach in a Stanley Cup final.' But I can tell you from experience, even being in St. Louis for the NFC Championship Game, we all get the same butterflies as we did back in the 10th grade when we were playing Jackson High School for the county championship." ODDS AND ENDS: Defenseman Andrei Zyuzin (headaches) was scratched for the second straight game. ... Center Brian Holzinger (bruised right foot) was scratched. He left the ice in pain after 10 minutes during the morning skate. He was injured against Atlanta on Thursday.

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