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Roy Makes The Most Of His Playing Time

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 14, 2007

TAMPA - For many a night, Andre Roy has played the regular role of a cheerleader, urging his teammates on from the bench while taking less than five shifts a night.

But Thursday he did his talking on the ice with 14 shifts while accumulating 9:09 of ice time, his second-highest total of the season and most since he played 9:22 in a blowout loss at New Jersey on Halloween night.

Roy notched his third goal of the season, drew two penalties - including a hooking call that led to Tampa Bay's tying goal late in the third - and made a couple of energy plays with hits along the end boards that created some turnovers.

"Whenever I get a shift I want to do something that can spark the team," Roy said. "Coach John Tortorella rewarded me with the ice time that I did get, and it's good to get on the ice."

Roy, who has scored goals in consecutive games for the third time in his career and the first time since Nov. 21-23, 2002, also took some shifts in the second period on the top line with Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis. Roy finished the night with five hits and three shots on goal.

NEW IRONMAN: Former Lightning D Cory Sarich, now with Calgary, took over the role of NHL ironman by playing in his 420th consecutive game Thursday. Vancouver's Brendan Morrison had his streak stopped at 542 games when he missed Wednesday's game against Anaheim. Lightning C Brad Richards is fourth on the active list, playing in 314 consecutive games, behind Colorado's Andrew Brunette (401) and Florida's Olli Jokinen (325).

Sarich, who signed a five-year deal with the Flames in the summer, admitted before the game that it was weird sitting in the visitor's locker room after spending seven seasons with the Lightning.

"I think the last time I was in here, and I think it's only been twice, once when I was with Buffalo and then my first year in Tampa we filmed a commercial in here with Wayne Primeau," Sarich said. "I mean, this was my home for seven years, I spent the lockout year here. It seems kind of strange that I'm not going back up I-75 to go back home."

NO CALL FROM CANADA: Tampa Bay's first pick in the 2007 draft, C Dana Tyrell, was not selected to represent Canada in the World Junior Championships, which began later this month in Czech Republic. Tyrell had been part of the Canadian team that faced off against Russia in the eight-game Super Series held before the start of the season. He will return to his junior team in Prince George, where he has 14 goals and 19 assists in 30 games this season.

NUTS AND BOLTS: RW Michel Ouellet left the game in the second period with an injury to his left shoulder and did not return. ... The seven combined goals in the first period tied the mark for the second-most goals in a period on home ice by both teams. The last time two teams combined for seven goals came on Jan. 15, 2004, when Tampa Bay led 5-2 after the first period against Carolina. The record of eight combined goals at home came against Winnipeg on Dec. 19, 1995, during the third period of a 6-3 Tampa Bay victory. ... D Shane O'Brien set a career high with three assists.

Erik Erlendsson

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