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Don't discount preseason

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 24, 2001

BRANDON -- Maybe it is because the Lightning has been so bad the past four years that positive stats scream for attention ... even when they crop up in preseason.

But consider that if Tampa Bay (2-0-1) beats or ties the Panthers Friday night at the Ice Palace, it will be the first time in 10 preseasons the team will be undefeated after four games.

The first impression from coach John Tortorella after Sunday's practice: "It's meaningless. ... Come to me in three weeks if we're 2-0-1 (in the regular season), and I'll be happy to talk about the record."

But dig a little deeper and you realize such a stat has its place.

Tortorella wants his players to buy into a certain system and a more aggressive style. He also uses on-ice conditioning that leaves players gasping for breath. Those demands are much easier to make if the players see results.

After Saturday night's 4-3 overtime victory over the Capitals, defenseman Andrei Zyuzin marveled at the life he had in his legs.

"We have worked really hard in training camp and now we can show that on the ice," he said. "If you look back at the third period last year, we were so tired we didn't know what to do. Now guys feel confident we can go out and do it."

Back to the big picture.

"Would you rather be 0-2-1? I don't think so," general manager Rick Dudley said. "Any time you can experience success it helps. It's fun. It gets habitual. Does it mean it carries over to the regular season? No. But it's a good sign, absolutely."

BAD GOAL: After Washington's Andrei Nikolishin scored with two minutes left to tie at 3, Nikolai Khabibulin swatted angrily at the puck.

It was just the kind of shot Tampa Bay is paying the goaltender $3.5-million to stop, and he knew it.

"A bad play," he said. "It went between my arm and body. A bad goal at a bad time."

Khabibulin immediately skated to defenseman Kristian Kudroc, who was covering Nikolishin, to take the blame.

"He played it right," Khabibulin said. "He kept him outside and that's what we want him to do."

Kudroc said he appreciated the gesture.

"I'm just trying to do my best job," he said.

INCOMPLETE TEAMS: Tortorella and Dudley are not discouraged that Tampa Bay's unbeaten streak has come against teams who have not played their entire lineups. Both noted the Lightning also has not played a full squad and the Capitals, who sat Jaromir Jagr, Peter Bondra and Chris Simon, played their NHL defense.

"It's one of the best in the league, and we created a lot of offense," Tortorella said.

Tampa Bay outshot Washington 32-29, overcoming the Capitals' 17-9 second-period advantage.

LUNCHEON: The St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce is hosting a luncheon for the team at noon Tuesday at the Hilton Hotel, 333 First Street S. Tortorella, assistant general manager Jay Feaster and all players are expected to attend.

For information, call (813) 301-6522.

ODDS AND ENDS: Tortorella will hold a Web chat at 7 p.m. Tuesday at tampabaylightning.com. ... The team will practice at 10 a.m. today and 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Ice Sports Forum.

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