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Observations As Bolts Camp Comes To Close

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 1, 2007

TAMPA - The Lightning are 19 days, five preseason games, two exhibition wins (and two losses) into training camp. Well, technically, training camp is finished. There are no more preseason games, only three practice sessions before Thursday's opener against New Jersey.

Though trying to get a gauge on a team's outlook during the preseason isn't a true barometer, Tampa Bay didn't get the chance to learn a lot about its lineup. That's because the Lightning were never able to get their full squad onto the ice for a full game.

The line of Jan Hlavac, Brad Richards and Michel Ouellet played only one game together because of a hamstring strain that sidelined Ouellet for two games. Chris Gratton took a stick to his left eye on his second shift of the preseason and, though he has practiced, missed the final four games. In three of the five games, Tampa Bay lost at least one player during the course of play.

All the bumps and bruises are a cause of slight frustration for Lightning coach John Tortorella, something he admitted after Saturday's loss to Dallas when Paul Ranger (shoulder) and Nick Tarnasky (broken nose) didn't finish the first period.

Any sort of continuity the team was hoping to accomplish during training camp was disrupted.

Here are some of my thoughts on what we did see:

•The goaltending will be better than last year, which I guess isn't saying a whole lot considering they finished last in team save percentage. But I like how Marc Denis has looked - you can't really blame him for the four goals allowed Saturday in Dallas. Denis was sharp just about every time he was on the ice, whether it was in the scrimmages or in his three preseason appearances. Johan Holmqvist looked strong Saturday, which earned him third-star status. And should either falter, I don't think the team would hesitate to bring Karri Ramo up. Who starts opening night remains unclear.

•The defense needs to tighten up in front of its net. Dallas got three goals on redirects from in front of the net, something that hurt Tampa Bay at times last season. I know the new penalty enforcements don't allow the defense to tie guys up like they used to, but there has to be other ways to clear space in front of the net.

•The depth on defense might be better than it has ever been. The emergence of rookie Mike Lundin, who has been told he will play opening night, has been a big surprise. Throw in Matt Smaby, Doug Janik, Bryce Lampman, Vladimir Mihalik, Andy Rogers, Mike Egener, Dan Jancevski, etc., and Tampa Bay has options to choose from in the event of injury or poor play.

•On paper, I like the balance of the four lines. Assuming Hlavac and Ouellet work out, there are two top-notch scoring lines, an energy line with Craig MacDonald between Andre Roy and Tarnasky and a versatile third line. And there is a lot of versatility with players who can be moved up and down the lines and into different positions should the need arise.

•The penalty kill has to improve. It was an Achilles' heel last season and judging from the preseason - I know, it's not a true indicator - it might be problematic once again after Tampa Bay finished last in the preseason by allowing seven power-play goals on 21 chances.

While some questions were answered in the preseason, there are some left unresolved. We will begin to see some of those answers when the season opens Thursday.

BOLTING TO EUROPE? The Lightning might start next season with a pair of regular-season games in Prague, Czech Republic. A report in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review citing unspecified sources reported the Lightning's opponent would be the Penguins and reigning MVP Sidney Crosby.

Lightning spokesman Bill Wickett confirmed the team has been contacted by the league about scheduling the games in Europe, though nothing concrete has been planned. The team will be holding a teleconference with league officials this week to discuss the details, which likely would include determining compensation to the team for losing a home date, how long the team would be in Europe and what other events the team would take part in while abroad.

The NHL has been discussing moving more regular-season games to Europe, starting with the pair of games Los Angeles and Anaheim played in London over the weekend.

And you can bet that if the Lightning have been contacted, the event is going to take place. When the league calls, you don't say no.

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