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Meszaros Searching For His First Goal

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 31, 2008

TAMPA - Andrej Meszaros said scoring goals is not at the top of his priority list. But it doesn't mean he's happy about having a goose-egg under his goals-scored column.

The 23-year-old defenseman didn't score fewer than seven goals in a season during his first three years in Ottawa. But he hasn't hit twine since Feb. 21, a span of 57 games, including Tuesday against Montreal.

To add insult to injury, Meszaros has the most shots on goal by any player this season not to score a goal, and it's not even close. Meszaros has 64 shots on goal without scoring; the next-closest is Toronto rookie D Luke Schenn, who has 46 shots on goal.

"It's frustrating, but what can I do," Meszaros said before Tuesday's game. "I stay out on the ice after practice and work on my shot and do as much as I can do. But the most important thing is we are winning. ... Personally, I would like to score goals, but it doesn't matter. It's more important for me to play good in my own end."

Lightning interim coach Rick Tocchet continues to work with Meszaros to keep his shot more accurate by firing wrist shots instead of always trying to wind up his 100-mph slap shot.

"I think he's pressing a little bit," Tocchet said. "I told him to take a little off his backswing, just get it on net because the goalie is moving side-to-side, or something like that, just to get it on net because he will get a goal through a screen. He's got a really hard shot and he's going to score eventually."

IN THE FOLD

The Lightning signed G Dustin Tokarski to a standard three-year entry level contract on Tuesday.

Tokarski, 19, was a fifth-round pick in June after winning a Memorial Cup championship with Spokane of the Western Hockey League. He has a 16-9-2 record for the Chiefs this season with a 1.97 goals-against average and .955 save percentage. The contract will begin next season.

Tokarski is playing for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships in Ottawa, where he has made one start, getting the victory in an 8-1 win against the Czech Republic in the tourney's opening game.

Tokarski is expected to start tonight against Team USA in the final preliminary game before the quarterfinals begin Friday.

COFFEE AND A DONUT

RW Mark Recchi played in career game 1,446, tying Tim Horton for 17th on the all-time list. Recchi ranks second among active players on the career games played list, behind only Detroit D Chris Chelios, who has appeared in 1,618 games.

NUTS AND BOLTS

D Marek Malik was a late scratch after coming down with the flu. ... D Lukas Krajicek returned to the lineup after missing Saturday's game with an undisclosed upper-body injury. ... After wearing a full face shield during the morning skate on Tuesday, RW Marty St. Louis played without it despite taking a puck off his bottom lip during practice on Monday. ... LW David Koci has the cast removed on his broken hand, but has yet to return to practice.

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