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Is Stephane Veilleux next up in the Lightning's search for Vinny Lecavalier's right wing?
First it was Steve Downie during a training camp scrimmage, then it was first-round draft pick Carter Ashton for, oh, half a game or so Friday night. It was Stephane Veilleux for the other half. The "revolving door," as Tampa Bay Lightning coach Rick Tocchet called it, continues, as does the search for a right wing to play on a line with center Vinny Lecavalier and Alex Tanguay.
Tocchet said he didn't take Ashton off Lecavalier's line on Friday, and put him with center Paul Szczechura and Blair Jones, because he did anything wrong. Tocchet said he just wanted to see Veilleux in that spot anyway. And you know what? Veilleux did a pretty good job. In fact, Lecavalier's line looked the best it did all camp with Veilleux providing hustle and work against the wall. And after all, isn't that what the Lightning wants from that position? ... Read more
With Steve Downie, search for Vinny Lecavalier's right wing comes full circle for Lightning
Remember when we started training camp and the talk was how the Lightning was going to give Steve Downie a chance to play right wing on Vinny Lecavalier's line with Alex Tanguay? That lasted one scrimmage. Experiments with Carter Ashton and Stephane Veilleux also were short lived.
So, Downie is back. He replaced Veilleux about midway through Wednesday night's 4-3 shootout loss to the Coyotes in Loveland, Colo., and looked good doing it. His pass from his knees to Lecavalier, led to Lecavalier's first goal of the preseason and gave the Lightning a 3-2 lead for 34 seconds before Phoenix tied things up. ... Read more
Coach Rick Tocchet says perhaps patience will help figure out Vinny Lecavalier's right wing
We have seen the revolving door at right wing on Vinny Lecavalier's line, and so far there has yet to be someone to claim the spot permanently. On the other hand, even Lightning coach Rick Tocchet said perhaps no one has been given a long enough chance to shine.
Consider the Steve Downie experiment, which lasted one scrimmage. Or the Carter Ashton experiment, which lasted less than a game. Same for Stephane Veilleux. Now, it appears Downie, who on Wednesday played well with Lecavalier and left wing Alex Tanguay gets another shot. But for how long? ... Read more
How much should we read into stats after 2 games?
So, here we are, two games into the season. Is it time to get worked up over stats? Is it even fair to the players, who have some issues with their numbers so far, but have a sustained track record of performance?
Two examples: Tampa Bay Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier has won only 31 percent (9 of 29) faceoffs so far. New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur is 0-2 with a 4.03 goals-against average and an .849 save percentage. ... Read more
Lightning coach Rick Tocchet: it's up to Vinny Lecavalier and Alex Tanguay to break slumps
The scoring slumps of Vinny Lecavalier and Alex Tanguay are growing to concerning proportions.
Lecavalier has zero goals in six games this season and none in 13 straight games going back to last season. Tanguay has zero goals this season as well and none in nine games going back to last season. At least Lecavalier has five assists and 24 shots on goal. Tanguay has just one assist and six shots.
After Tampa Bay's 7-1 loss to the Senators, Tanguay said, "I (stink) right now." ... Read more
Guess Vinny Lecavalier and Alex Tanguay will get (occasional) help breaking their slumps after all
Here's an interesting note as we head into Saturday's game with the Penguins: Marty St. Louis is starting on right wing with -- Vinny Lecavalier and Alex Tanguay. ... Read more
Big line changes for Tampa Bay Lightning: Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis back together
Guess Saturday night was just a tease because it looks like Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis will be playing together for the short-term anyway. The move was one of several made by coach Rick Tocchet after an 0-2 road trip in which the Lightning was outscored 11-2 and actually regressed a bit from the promise it showed earlier in the season.
Another significant move, Alex Tanguay was taken off Lecavalier's line. Neither Tanguay nor Lecavalier has a goal this season. Lecavalier hasn't scored in 14 games going back to last season. ... Read more
Tampa Bay Lightning coach Rick Tocchet: Vinny Lecavalier and Alex Tanguay have to get "uglier"
No practice for the Tampa Bay Lightning Monday, just an off-ice workout. But coach Rick Tocchet hit a few subjects while talking before the Lightning held its annual Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the St. Pete Times Forum.
The most interesting, perhaps, was his critique of the games of center Vinny Lecavalier and left wing Alex Tanguay. So far, the pairing has not clicked and Tanguay on Sunday was bumped down to a third line with center Jeff Halpern and wing Drew Miller. Lecavalier was paired with right wing Marty St. Louis and rookie James Wright.
Asked why Lecavalier and Tanguay did not click, Tocchet went big picture: ... Read more
Tampa Bay Lightning plays "naked shootout" after Tuesday's practice; not quite what you think
For those of you into the team bonding thing, the Lightning's post-practice game of "naked breakaways" was a useful undertaking. Players watched intently as Marty St. Louis shed his jersey, his arm pads, leg pads, leggings and his skates before finally getting the puck past a goaltender; the last player to do so.
In other words, no one missed enough breakaways to get naked. But a good time was had by all as players cheered as teammates were forced to shed pieces of equipment.
Actually, the best line was thrown after Todd Fedoruk missed a breakaway and someone yelled at the gap-toothed left wing, "Take out the rest of your teeth." ... Read more
Lightning coach Rick Tocchet deserves credit for how he handled "extended training camp"
Let me start by saying I understand it was only one game, and the real test, when some of the adrenaline of this week might have run off, could be Saturday when the Tampa Bay Lightning faces the Sabres at the St. Pete Times Forum. But let's give credit where it is deserved. in his first mini-crisis of the season, coach Rick Tocchet handled it just right, and he got results.
I'll admit I write this in part in response to e-mails I have received and some questions on this week's chat that wondered if it was time to fire Tocchet. It is the worst kind of knee-jerk reaction to a couple of bad games (geez, at least Barry Melrose got 16 games). That said, a lot would be deduced by the way the players responded to whatever the coach came up with to break a terrible two-game stretch in which the team lost twice and was outscored 11-2. ... Read more
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