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Auditions Open In Last 5 Lightning Games

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 2, 2009

BOSTON - With the number of games left in the regular season dwindling, the Lightning coaching staff continues to try to keep morale up and get the players to be at their best come game time.

It's not an easy task, as the only thing the Lightning have been competing for the past month is draft lottery position. But interim coach Rick Tocchet continues to beat the drum that jobs are open, this is the time to audition and the coaching staff is watching.

"You've just got to keep teaching and looking for players who want to play in the NHL," Tocchet said. "It's easy decisions when you look at guys not competing, that makes our job easier. When you have 20 guys working hard and competing, you're like, 'Wow, we have to make choices. Right now, I don't think we have to make many choices to be honest with you, that's the hard reality."

Tampa Bay has five games remaining on its schedule starting with Friday's game in New Jersey followed by a visit to the Islanders on Saturday.

DIFFERENT VOICE: As the Lightning were put through a light practice on the campus of Boston University on Wednesday morning, it was assistant coach Wes Walz putting the players through a series of drills for about 45 minutes.

Normally Tocchet or associate coach Mike Sullivan runs practices, but Tocchet said he wants Walz to be more involved with putting together practice.

"Sometimes it's good to let one guy do it, with a different voice," Tocchet said.

Wednesday's regimen dealt a lot with passing drills focused as much on keeping the players moving as working with pucks. Practice ended with some conditioning laps before the team departed for New Jersey.

"Coming off the game and morning practice, it wasn't a real good teaching day, so Wes asked what kind of practice and I told him try something with some flow, just get some sweat going," Tocchet said.

DAY OFF: Four players were given Wednesday off to rest - C Vinny Lecavalier and D Matt Smaby, Richard Petiot and Lukas Krajicek.

Smaby has been banged up of late with a lower body injury that kept him out of Sunday's game against Ottawa.

Petiot appeared to suffer a shoulder injury during a brief fight with Boston's Byron Bitz in the second period Tuesday.

TRADITION: Boston University has a rich tradition of sending players to the NHL, and a wall inside Agganis Arena displays photographs of each player. Among those pictured on the wall are Keith Tkachuk, Jim Craig, Dave Silk, Ryan Whitney, former Lightning C John Cullen, Rick DiPietro and Mike Grier.

Also pictured is Lightning associate coach Sullivan, who spent four seasons with the Terriers from 1986-90. Sullivan went on to play in more than 700 NHL games with four teams - San Jose, Calgary, Boston and Phoenix.

This year's Terriers are ranked No. 1 in the country and will face Vermont in the Frozen Four in Washington on April 9.

Erik Erlendsson

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