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Bolts' Roy Returns, Future Uncertain

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 18, 2008

BRANDON - For five games, the only thing present at Andre Roy's locker stall was his hockey equipment hanging from hooks.

For five games, Roy hung out at home with his wife, Karine, and the couple's two daughters, Maelie (2) and Eloise (two weeks), as his teammates continued to battle on the ice.

Roy, however, remains on thin ice following a blow-up during the third period of a game at Philadelphia on March 6 that led to a 10-day exile from the team. He returned to practice Monday at the Ice Sports Forum - word is his teammates stepped up to defend Roy - but whether he gets into any of the remaining 10 games or how the situation affects his possible return next season remains unclear.

"Don't ask me any questions about Andre," said Lightning coach John Tortorella, refusing to address the subject.

Roy didn't want to talk about the team's actions Monday, but he did discuss the actions that led to his banishment.

In the third period of a tied game against the Flyers, Roy wanted a third bout with Philadelphia's Riley Cote, who delivered a knockdown punch during their second fight of the game. The fight was replayed on the arena's overhead videoboard, with players on the Flyers' bench "laughing and smiling," according to Roy.

That fueled his anger.

"Cote caught me by surprise, he made me look bad," Roy said. "I play with a lot of pride and I am emotional. I was embarrassed. I don't like to look bad. I'm thinking about the team, I know that, I know I have to do that, but I was looking for a rematch right away."

Roy did not take a shift during the third period despite requesting ice time. During a television timeout, however, Roy came off the bench presumably to loosen his legs, but he instead started jawing at the Philadelphia bench. He had to be restrained by a linesman as he skated toward the Flyers bench and was physically pulled back onto the Lightning bench by Tortorella. The coach grabbed Roy by the shoulders to sit him down. At one point during the incident, Roy gave a throat-slashing gesture.

In February, Roy was a healthy scratch for three consecutive games after getting into a verbal spat with Tortorella during a game against Florida.

"While hockey is an emotional game and we want all of our players to compete and play the game with passion, it is also necessary that all of our players be under control and working within the team concept during games," General Manager Jay Feaster said in a statement. "The situations against Florida and in Philadelphia raised concerns in this regard and I felt the need to fully review and analyze the matters."

Roy said he is happy to be back with his teammates and was his usual blithesome self during practice Monday, keeping things loose with some good-humored ribbing and impromptu karaoke. He even critiqued a fight during practice between defenseman Shane O'Brien and left wing Karl Stewart, which had to be broken up by teammates.

O'Brien briefly left the ice when it appeared he had injured his left thumb, but quickly returned and said after practice everything was fine. Stewart said the fight was "no big deal, just two competitive guys going at it."

NOTES: D Mike Lundin practiced Monday despite missing most of the final two periods Saturday with a left ankle injury after hitting feet-first into the end boards. Tortorella said he is unsure who will be in the lineup when the team starts a three-game road trip after D Matt Smaby was called up from AHL Norfolk on Monday. Tortorella didn't commit to Smaby playing Wednesday in Buffalo, but said the 22-year-old defenseman will get into the lineup at some point.

Reporter Erik Erlendsson can be reached at (813) 259-7835 or eerlendsson@tampatrib.com.

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