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Net Gains Again Will Be Key To Bolts' Season

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By Martin Fennelly, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 14, 2007

Updated: 09/14/2007 12:12 am

That frozen tree that just fell in the forest was the opening of Lightning training camp.

Everyone was sucking air after the Thursday morning speed skate, lap after lap around the ice. Ahead are countless practices, then preseason games, then the 82-game forced march.

All so we can stand around for six months and talk about the goaltending.

Everyone was upbeat Thursday, talking about the additions made in the name of scoring and toughness and veteran leadership.

'We want to be taken seriously,' said 50-goal star Vinny Lecavalier.

'We're a pretty good team. We've got to get back to being a great team,' Bolts coach John Tortorella said.

It's so unspoken.

But it's still there.

The Puck Stops Here?

Like last season - and the season before - goaltending is the elephant in the rink.

And the same two elephants are back, Marc Denis and Johan Holmqvist.

This team had several holes en route to another first-round playoff exit, but the holiest was the worst net minding in the business. It's like Devil Rays Bullpen on Ice.

The Lightning have boxed themselves in and it might just serve them right. Denis and Holmqvist are nice enough guys, but depending on them at this point is like preparing to swing across a ravine on a spaghetti noodle.

Holmqvist is on a one-year deal. Denis, whom the Lightning put a lot of chips on last season, would already be gone if the market for last in the league in save percentage hadn't pretty much collapsed.

Then again, there's young Karri Ramo. If the Bucs have four quarterbacks, why can't the Lightning have three goaltenders? Do I hear four?

OK, three.

'I doubt that,' Tortorella said.

It's Denis, then Holmqvist. More like Holmqvist, then Denis.

Never mind the order.

I doubt them.

Denis Fired Up

Lecavalier can score 50 more, Marty St. Louis can be at his hummingbird best, Danny Boyle can shine on the back line and Brad Richards can rebound - and it might not matter.

Tortorella welcomes old Bolts Chris Gratton and Brad Lukowich and can't wait to see wingers Michel Ouellet and Jan Hlavac - and it might not matter.

Denis lost his starting job and has aired things out with Tortorella. Denis' basic message: I'll show you. Tortorella digs his fire.

'I think he wants to show not just me, but show himself,' Tortorella said. '... That's how he's approaching it. He's a good guy, a proud guy.'

'Last year was a glitch in my career,' Denis said. 'It happens to a lot of players. I'm definitely looking forward to this year. I'd like to believe I'm a better person than when I showed up here. I'd like to believe I'm a better goalie than when I showed up here.'

Who wouldn't?

We've set the world record for a broken record, but it's that simple.

The Bolts can train and sweat and do all those practice laps, but they'll be skating in circles this season without you know what. And we know you do.

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