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Ranger Rides To The Rescue

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON

eerlendsson@tampatrib.com

Published: October 23, 2008

Updated: 10/23/2008 01:22 am

TAMPA - Through the opening two weeks of the Lightning season, the defense seemed lost.

It took a Ranger to help them find their way.

In the first three games, the Lightning gave up an astonishing 126 shots on goal. The defensemen struggled to get the puck out of the defensive zone, stunting the transition game.

But in the three games since Paul Ranger returned from offseason shoulder surgery, the shots have dropped from an average of 42 to 30. The offense also has benefited, because Ranger excels in passing out of the zone and has the confidence to carry the puck out of the zone to start the attack.

Ranger also has taken the tough defensive assignments against other teams' top lines, along with Andrej Meszaros, helping to shut down the likes of Ilya Kovalchuk and Mikko Koivu.

Lightning coach Barry Melrose was champing at the bit to get Ranger into the lineup at the start of the season.

"This kid is great," Melrose said. "Paul is big. He's a great skater. He's a great passer. He's strong physically and can eliminate people in our end. Paul is better than I thought he was."

Can one person inserted into the lineup make that much of a difference, though?

"Oh, yeah, without a doubt, especially on defense," Melrose said. "If you have guys who are tentative, and all of a sudden they watch Paul play, watch him take the body, see him jump into the play and the way he passes the puck, then all of a sudden other guys are doing the same things.

"Great players change the way other guys play. They start doing things and trying things, winning physical battles. Then, all of a sudden, everyone else starts doing it. That's what leadership is, and Paul has really been a leader in the three games he's played for us."

Ranger has seen the difference, too, having watched the first three games from the press box.

"I feel like our D has gotten a little bit better, a little bit more confident with the puck, and we seem to be settling down a little bit," he said.

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

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