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Darche Returns After A Productive Week

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 22, 2007

TAMPA RW Mathieu Darche was back with the Lightning on Wednesday and was back in the lineup after spending a productive week with the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL.

Darche was so productive, in fact, that he was named that league's Player of the Week after posting 10 points (three goals) in his four games. He played on a line with fellow AHL veterans Craig MacDonald and Kyle Wanvig.

"Obviously, we've had success before," Darche said. "And when you spend eight weeks in the NHL, obviously you go back down and the speed is different. And they gave us a lot of ice time."

If Wednesday's game against the Rangers was any indication, Darche can expect plenty of ice time in his return engagement with the Lightning. He played on a line with Chris Gratton and Ryan Craig, with RW Jason Ward out as a healthy scratch for the first time this season.

Darche was recalled Wednesday along with D Dan Jancevski, who also was in the lineup. Jancevski, who was signed as a free agent on July 6, played in place of D Paul Ranger (shoulder).

Coach John Tortorella said he didn't expect Ranger's injury to keep him out of the lineup for long, which means Jancevski's role could be limited in the near future.
Darche, who had a goal and three assists in 13 games before being re-assigned to Norfolk on Nov. 13, credited his time with the Lightning with helping his game back in the AHL.

"You're going to laugh, but I did some stuff down there I never did before, just by watching Vinny [Lecavalier], Marty [St. Louis] and those guys," Darche said. "I told that to Vinny this morning, watching those guys in games and practice, some move or some pass that I've never tried before even in the minors. I'd try it and it would work."

TORTORELLA FINED: The NHL fined Tortorella $10,000 for his critical remarks directed at referees after Monday's 4-3 overtime loss to Atlanta.
The thrust of Tortorella's comment was that officials should let the players decide the outcome, rather than allowing a questionable call to have too much of an impact - especially late in the game. Tortorella was particularly upset with a holding call against Brad Richards in OT, a call that led to the winning goal.

"The frustrating thing is organizations in this league pay millions upon millions of dollars, they are the ones that need to decide outcomes of games," Tortorella said Monday. "I'm trying to stay away from criticizing some of the calls, but [forget] that, [forget] that. I just don't get it."

NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell made the decision Wednesday afternoon. According to a league spokesperson, Tortorella's use of profanity during a postgame news conference following Game 5 of last season's first-round playoff series against New Jersey factored into Campbell's decision.

NUTS AND BOLTS: According to Lightning president Ron Campbell, the impending sale of the team to Absolute Hockey Enterprises is not on the agenda of next week's Board of Governors meeting. Campbell expressed optimism that the sale still could be completed by the Dec. 31 deadline. … Jancevski, 26, played his third NHL game.
He played in two for Dallas in the 2005-06 season. He picked up his first career NHL penalty for holding late in the second period.

Carter Gaddis

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