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Chemistry Sparks Ouellet's Surge

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 31, 2008

TAMPA - Even before the ink dried on Michel Ouellet's new two-year contract on July 1, the expectation level on his play raised to stratospheric heights.

By the middle of the season, however, he was out of the lineup with a separated shoulder and his production level was buried to the point he felt he was in quicksand - the harder he tried to climb out, the further entrenched in disappointment he found himself.

Through Feb. 21, Ouellet had only seven goals and 20 points in 43 games, a far cry from the belief he would expand on his 19-goal season with Pittsburgh in 2006-07.

As the Lightning dropped to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, Ouellet started to look like a $2.5 million mistake.

Yet in what might just be pure coincidence, since the trade of Brad Richards - the center who was supposed to raise Ouellet's game to a new level and provide the team with a balanced scoring attack - the 26-year-old winger has been one of the team's top scorers.

Entering tonight's home finale against Atlanta, Ouellet has scored 10 goals in the past 17 games and has 23 points, most of those playing with newly acquired center Jeff Halpern and left winger Mathieu Darche.

"I think it's just the combination of our line, since we were put together we have had some success," Ouellet said. "We're doing the little things, getting the puck behind the defense and forechecking and that's why we are getting our chances."

Doesn't it seem a little strange though that the production level wasn't there with Richards, a former 90-point scorer and playoff MVP who was begging for a winger to finish off plays?

"It is weird. I mean they brought me in during the summer to play with Richards, and obviously that didn't work," Ouellet said. "But I'm just glad right now that I have that scoring touch back and I'm working hard every game."

During his time sitting out with the shoulder injury, Ouellet had the chance to reflect on what went on the first two months and learned a lot by watching games from above.

"Before the injury I was on the fourth line and was thinking about what I was doing wrong, the little things I wasn't doing," he said. "But I came back and slowly I started to do those things and regain some confidence."

Lightning coach John Tortorella has noticed a different Ouellet in recent weeks, as well, and there is no definitive explanation for the resurrection of what once looked like a lost season.

"I've just seen a different, more aggressive and confident Mike Ouellet," Tortorella said. "Why it didn't work with Brad, I don't know. Maybe he was just a little intimidated playing with Richie.

"But all I know is that he is battling for pucks, he is forechecking and right now it's a good time for him with the transition we are in right now as we start to think about next year. It just shows that you can never say never with anybody."

Can his current level of production, at a point in time when the games don't matter, carry over into next season? Will Ouellet live up to the contract expectations next season and produce like a top-six forward when the outcomes of games mean more than just draft lottery positioning? Is this late-season run enough to give some encouragement for next season?

"For sure, I know now that I can put the puck in the net like I was brought here to do," Ouellet said. "And we have some good chemistry with our line, too, so that's a good thing as we look to next season."

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

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