The final score sheet from Sunday's game had one very interesting stat. It claimed the Lightning outhit the Devils 23-18 during a 7-3 loss. It's a mystery to me what they were looking at to find 41 total hits, but it is even more perplexing to believe Tampa Bay had more hits.

A couple of smacks here and there by Evgeny Artyukhin and Ryan Malone were so startling, the fans gave them more of a cheer than they probably deserved. But that's what happens when things like that become rare. Let's face it, this team just is not built for any kind of physical game, and it's a shame because more often than not, when a hit is made, a turnover is the result.

It's frustrating for me, not as a fan of the team but a fan of physical hockey to watch games without much hitting. I can only imagine what it is like for Lightning fans to watch, not only opponents not be challenged but puck battles constantly being lost.

It's not correct to think you need guys crushing people against the glass all the time. Just get in someone's way. I know, and I agree to a certain extent, that the new rules make players skittish about throwing checks, and not so much because of penalties. If you miss, the guys is past you and there's no way to grab him to slow him down. But you have to somehow make players think twice here and there.

Look, this team has a bunch of other problems probably more pressing. The goal scoring is still missing, the power play is atrocious and sometimes puck possession is so fleeting, opponents run around the Lightning zone for minutes at a time.

It's a long season, and coach Rick Tocchet needs some time to put the organization back in the right direction. But throwing a check now and then has nothing to do with systems or structure. It has to do with willingness.

By the way, Vinny Lecavalier and Ryan Malone both were minus-4 with one shot each. Brutal.