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Stamkos Finally Feels Like Part Of Game

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 19, 2008

TAMPA - Watching Steven Stamkos fly around the Forum ice on Tuesday, it looked like the rookie was ready to break out and show the NHL he can be a factor.

The No. 1 overall pick logged a season-high 17:55 of ice time and had nine shots on goal, the most by a Lightning player this season. He also picked up his first point on home ice and snapped an eight-game scoring drought with his assist on a second-period goal.

"I definitely felt really good out there and starting the game playing with Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis helped me to get my confidence going," Stamkos said. "Interim coach Rick Tocchet has been great with me, giving me an opportunity out there, and you definitely feel like you are in the game. I had tons of shots and was making some plays offensively and I felt great."

Stamkos has been one of the centers of attention since the firing of Coach Barry Melrose, who was accused of not giving Stamkos enough opportunities. Heading into Tuesday's game, Stamkos had been averaging a second under 12 minutes per game.

"We've been talking to him a lot, keeping his spirits up, and you can tell the last three or four days he's light on his feet, bouncing around in practice and you can tell that he's excited," Tocchet said. "He deserved the ice time tonight. He gets nine shots; some guys don't get that in a month."

Vrbata Finds Net

RW Radim Vrbata, who signed a three-year contract worth $9 million on July 1, scored his first goal of the season in the second period Tuesday. Vrbata had 27 goals with Phoenix last season, but his first goal of the season - and first with Tampa Bay - was his first in 33 games dating to Feb. 18.

Malone Hurting

The MRI results on injured LW Ryan Malone came back negative, according to Tocchet, although Malone missed his fourth consecutive game with a lower body injury that is believed to be his leg. Malone skated on his own Tuesday morning, but he is listed as day-to-day, with no indication of when he might return.

Third Jerseys

The Lightning will unveil their new alternate jerseys on Sunday against New Jersey. The third jerseys feature a solid blue color with the word "BOLTS" diagonally across the chest. An in-house advertisement stated the jerseys would go on sale in the area starting Monday, and anybody who purchases one at Champs Sports will receive two tickets to an upcoming game.

Yellow Night

The ninth annual Tampa Bay Fights Cancer night will be held Friday against Nashville. The event is hosted by the Yerrid Foundation to raise awareness and funding for cancer research. Cancer survivors and those who care for cancer patients will wear yellow t-shirts, and yellow merchandise will be on sale to raise money for research.

Nuts And Bolts

The Lightning have allowed two or more power-play goals in six of 18 games this season. ... Tampa Bay has allowed 30 or more shots in 17 of 18 games this season. ... Only LW Gary Roberts, D Marek Malik and D Mike Lundin failed to register a shot on goal. ... The Lightning have had 50 or more shots twice, both times against Florida. ... LW Evgeny Artyukhin scored his first goal since Feb. 9, 2006, a span of 39 games.

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