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Tocchet, Bolts Starting To Ramp It Up

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By JOE HENDERSON

Published: November 19, 2008

TAMPA - The Lightning are a bust so far, but the size of the job facing Rick Tocchet can't be measured by just the standings. One look at the large number of empty seats for Tuesday's game at the Forum against the Panthers told you that.

The Lightning have committed a far greater sin than just being mediocre to this point. They have been boring.

They weren't boring in this game. They set a franchise record with 52 shots on goal. They came from three goals down to force overtime.

They still lost. The Panthers won the shootout and left with a 4-3 victory.

The Lightning also lost something else. On a day when Tocchet was behind the bench as head coach for the first time at home, they lost the battle for the hearts and minds of sports fans around these parts. The Rays fired the woman who dressed in a furry blue costume and pranced around Tropicana Field as Raymond. It was a lights-out bigger talker.

That proves two things: We can be Gooberville around here when we try hard enough, and Tocchet needs to help turn things around quickly.

People complained that his predecessor, Barry Melrose, lacked the edge to motivate. Tocchet has an edge. And since he technically is the "interim" head coach for now, he'll need it.

"We have to get the intensity level up in practice on certain guys," he said. "Some guys are still ... they're not getting it. They're not ready."

Melrose was hired partly because after years of sandpaper-abrasive John Tortorella, it was felt the Bolts needed a calmer voice. Apparently he was too calm, because now the game plan is to ramp it up again. They didn't always play well Tuesday, but at least they were ramped up.

They charged the net. They fought back. They didn't pack it in.

It's a start.

"He's well-respected, very passionate about the game, does his homework, and is no-nonsense," right winger Mark Recchi said. "That's pretty well the way he played. He's one of the best teammates I ever played with."

They go back a ways. Recchi was traded for Tocchet in 1991 and later played with him in Philadelphia at the end of Tocchet's career.

"It's kind of unfair to Barry if you start comparing the two, because Barry is a good person, but Toch has his own way," Recchi said. "I don't think there's been enough time to instill what he wants or see how he'll react to things, but guys will find out in time.

"I know that right away he gets respect because of his history of being a great player, a tough player, a very competitive player."

That's the kind of team fans would like to see - tough, competitive and maybe one that wins more than just every now and then. If the Lightning become that, maybe it won't be such big news the next time a furry mascot gets canned.

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