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Tocchet Eschews All Excuses

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By TONY FABRIZIO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 7, 2008

TAMPA - Interim coach Rick Tocchet could roll out a litany of excuses for the Lightning's losing record if he were inclined.

Given the opportunity to invoke some of them before Saturday's game, he resisted.

Tocchet did not get a training camp as the head man to implement his system and philosophy. He's had to work with an ever-evolving roster.

And there was that 12-day trip to Prague to open the season with two games against the New York Rangers. With a dozen new players on the roster and the team needing time to develop chemistry on familiar ice, was this the year for such a trip?

"It's the hand you're dealt with and you go with it," Tocchet said. "I'm excited about having that challenge. Not everything is going to go the way you want in life."

Because players have been shuffled in and out from AHL Norfolk to cover for injuries and create competition, continuity has suffered. Nine players on the current roster either weren't on the roster or were injured when the season started.

RW Mark Recchi also refuses to use the disjointed training camp as an excuse, but he allowed that season preparations were not ideal.

"Training camp is a big part of establishing the structure, and you get your systems in place and so on," he said. "We're just a little behind in that, that's all."

FEELING HIS PAIN

Tocchet said he empathizes with backup G Olie Kolzig, whose playing time continues to wane because of the superior play of Mike Smith.

"It's a tough situation for him," he said. "You're talking about a guy who has played a ton of games as a front-line goalie, and he comes into a situation to push for the No. 1 job. But Smitty has had an all-star season."

A longtime starter with the Washington Capitals who lost his job to Cristobal Huet late last year, Kolzig signed as a free agent in July. He is 1-4 with a 4.11 goals-against average and was pulled in his two most recent starts.

Tocchet said Kolzig is one of the three or four hardest working players on the team and "an absolute selfless guy."

MALONE OUT

LW Ryan Malone was a surprise scratch, sitting out with an upper-body injury. RW Adam Hall and D Mike Lundin were the other Tampa Bay scratches.

Earlier, Tocchet was cryptic when asked who wouldn't play.

"A couple of guys got some stuff I found out about today, so we'll find out in the warm-up," he said.

OTHER INJURIES

LW Matt Pettinger was moving pretty well in the morning skate, but it sounds like he's at least a few days from returning.

"Hopefully, somewhere on this road trip," Tocchet said, referring to the four-game trip that starts Monday at Boston.

Pettinger sprained his right knee in practice Nov. 25 when his skate caught a rut in the ice, and he was supposed to miss two to four weeks.

"I feel good straight-ahead skating, but it's just the battle stuff and tight quick stuff coming out of the corner." Pettinger said. "We have a lot of healthy bodies and I don't want to rush it."

Also remaining out were LW Gary Roberts (groin), C Chris Gratton (lower body), LW David Koci (broken hand) and C Jeff Halpern (knee).

Tocchet said Gratton, who hasn't played since Nov. 18, has an ankle problem - a "frustrating injury for him."

Tony Fabrizio

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