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Bolts Await Basic Training

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON

eerlendsson@tampatrib.com

Published: December 15, 2008

TAMPA - Since assuming the head coaching duties a month ago, Rick Tocchet has often spoken about the Lightning's lack of a real training camp.

While it's just as likely Tocchet was taking a dig at former coach Barry Melrose and also making a reference to the lack of actual training camp days in September, both are probably correct in some capacity.

The next three days, however, will be the closest the Lightning get to Camp Tocchet until September. Tampa Bay does not play again until Thursday when Colorado comes to town, the longest break between games the Lightning enjoy this season, not counting the All-Star break.

So Tocchet and his coaching staff will use the time to their advantage to try to help salvage whatever hope might be left in a season that already has been filled with enough drama to earn a Daytime Emmy Award.

"We've already mapped out our three days and what we want to do," Tocchet said.

The players were given Sunday off after arriving from Ottawa shortly before 3 a.m. but can expect to spend plenty of time on the ice and in video sessions in the coming days. Since the coaching change, most of the teaching done by Tocchet, associate coach Mike Sullivan and assistant Wes Walz essentially has been done on the fly.

A condensed schedule has allowed the coaches to have consecutive practice days only twice as they tried to balance getting in extra work while ensuring there was enough time for rest.

With the team mired in a 2-11-4 slide, they need all they work they can get.

"There will be a lot of practice time in the next couple days, no doubt," Tocchet said.

For the players, the time off is a mixed blessing. While the time off allows players who are nicked up days to rest, many will tell you they would much rather get back into a game than practice for three days.

"For me, I'd rather play every other day," defenseman Andrej Meszaros said. "Especially when you lose, you don't want to think about it, you just want to see the video, look at the mistakes and talk about it, then go play right away. Now we have four days. Hopefully we can work on some power play and some penalty kill and try to get better."

Defenseman Steven Eminger sees benefits to both sides of the time off.

"In some ways, it's good to get right back at it," Eminger said. "In other ways, yeah, it's some time away to think about what's going on, think about what the job is and about how much is left in the season. I guess we'll have to wait and see what it holds.

"But no matter the situation, we know what to do and what to expect during games."

During the next three days, they know to expect a training camp-like approach.

Reporter Erik Erlendsson can be reached at (813) 259-7835.

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