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Forum: Talk Lightning
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Lightning coach Rick Tocchet said after Tuesdays’ shootout setback to Florida that working on breakaway/shootouts was at the top of his list to practice. He cracked a sly smile when asked about it Wednesday, since they didn’t work on it, instead he wanted to emphasis defensemen getting pucks through to the net. One of the things Tocchet said the defense needs to do a better job of is getting around the shot blockers and making sure shots get on net. The Panthers scored twice last night when Bryan McCabe ripped a couple of bombs past Mike Smith from the right point. Tampa Bay tied the score when Steve Eminger wristed a shot through traffic that found its way behind Tomas Vokoun.
I guess that means practicing shootouts is second on Tocchet’s list, after all, defensemen shooting pucks on net sure happen more often than a breakaway or shootout (even though it seems the Lightning are involved in a shootout per week right now). Tocchet said they will work on them during practice on Thursday before getting ready for Nashville on Friday.
Ryan Malone skated with the team today and said he feels like he’s ready to go for Friday. Malone indicated that whatever lower body (leg?) ailment that has kept him out of the past four games isn’t completely healed and there is still some discomfort and pain tolerance he is going to have to deal with, but he feels well enough as of now that he believes he will play.
Gary Roberts and Mark Recchi were both given the day off from practice, or should I say, they were both told to stay away from the ice. The 40-something crowd was informed it might be better for them to just go have a workout in the gym instead of putting on the gear. Tocchet basically told them to take the day off, especially Recchi who has been playing quite a bit of ice time of late.
Here’s a nice nugget of information courtesy of Elias Sports Bureau, via the NHL:
Steven Stamkos had nine shots on goal for the Lightning in their game against the Panthers last night, matching the highest single-game shot total by a rookie over the last three seasons. The Bruins’ Phil Kessel had nine shots on goal against Ottawa on Oct. 28, 2006 and the Rangers’ Brandon Dubinsky put nine shots on target against the Sabres on Feb. 23, 2008. No rookie has reached double-figures in shots on goal in one game since the Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin did so seven times in the 2005-06 season.
Posted by hockeyWA, on 11/19 at 08:42 PM
The team did play better but there are alot of things that need improvement:
1. Passing….It seems like the team either passes too often (puck is picked off) or they miss their target.
2. Hitting….I don’t consider “gliding” into your opponent a HIT. I have said it many times in the past…This team is soft. When your biggest hitters are some of the oldest (Recchi and Gratton) that is a problem. Arty should be a major threat..but he is not.
My hope is that Tocchet’s mentality (play hard, fight harder) rubs off on these guys.
Posted by Ruthe, St Pete on 11/19 at 08:11 PM
Herb-Sarasota. You are exactly right. We can’t go through the entire season wondering “what if.” I was just making a statment that “if” just one of Stamkos’ goals had gone in we would have won. And even though the fans state we are getting better with every game, it doesn’t count unless we get two points. After watching the other teams on Center Ice, and as much as I hate to say it, this team just doesn’t have the talent to compete with the top teams. I hope I am wrong.
Posted by Herb, Sarasota on 11/19 at 07:20 PM
OK Ruthe, you like using the word “if”. OK here it goes. “If” the Bolts were playing a good hockey team last night, then the Bolts would have gotten plastered. The Florida Panthers are one of the worst teams in hockey and the Bolts lost to them twice, while everybody else creams them (the Panthers). I can throw that “if” word as well.
Posted by Eddie Laugen, Dunedin, FL on 11/19 at 04:40 PM
The Bolts will come around. We’re playing better and we’ll start getting results.
Posted by Ruthe, St Pete on 11/19 at 04:14 PM
If only one of those nine shots had gone in. Regardless, Stamkos was the NHL’s On The Fly selection for Pepsi performer of the night.
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Posted by BillSmith, Central, FL on 11/20 at 04:49 AM
I hope Tocchet gets it figured oat. What we are seeing is no fun for anyone.
Agreed,passing has been bad all season. I chalk that up to players having less structure on the ice and allowed to free wheel it more. Coaching.
Lack of hitting, comes from always chasing the puck instead of carrying the puck and being in control. It all comes back to not being able to consistantly skate the puck out of the zone. Long passes lead to turnovers, lead to chasing the puck which leads to being out of position. Can’t follow the check when you have to go chase the puck. Changing that is called coaching.