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Camp Melrose Place Reopens For Business

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON

eerlendsson@tampatrib.com

Published: October 9, 2008

TAMPA - After taking two days to shake off any jet lag, Camp Melrose Place reopened for business Wednesday as the Lightning attempt to recover from the season-opening two-game losing streak in Europe during the weekend.

When the players hit the ice, the top two lines flip-flopped left wingers as Ryan Malone was on the top line with Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis while Vinny Prospal moved down to work with rookie Steven Stamkos and Radim Vrbata.

"I want to get four stable lines and I want to get four lines that are playing well together," Melrose said. "We have to get Malone going. ... The Chris Gratton line has been our best line, by far, because they work their tails off and they keep it simple. So I'm just trying to get some magic on the other lines, so it's just a little bit of tinkering."

After Sunday's game, a second 2-1 loss to the New York Rangers in Prague, Czech Republic, and a pair of games in which the team was outshot 80-40, Melrose called upon the team's top players to play harder. Following practice Wednesday, captain Vinny Lecavalier and alternate captain Marty St. Louis had an on-ice discussion with Melrose and the coaching staff.

"We didn't compete hard enough; right now we are too easy to play against and that's got to change," Melrose said. "We're not happy with the way we played over there; at times we played well, but for a two-game stint, we weren't happy."

The team has two more days of practice to get ready for Saturday's home opener against Carolina.

"We need the puck more, that's the key," Lecavalier said. "The more you have the puck the more chances you have. Play better defensively, go after the other team and shoot on net, that's something we didn't do and we'll have to do that to win games."

Reporter Erik Erlendsson can be reached at (813) 259-7835.

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