TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Caps' Green Loves The Red Light

ADVERTISEMENT

By IRA KAUFMAN

ikaufman@tampatrib.com

Published: February 14, 2009

Updated: 02/14/2009 12:12 am

TAMPA - The Lightning head into tonight's matchup against Washington on full alert, knowing they are only a defensive breakdown away from giving Mike Green a treasured spot in the NHL record book.

Green, a third-year player who tops all defensemen with 21 goals and 49 points, is seeking to become the first NHL blue-liner to score at least one goal in eight consecutive games.

The incomparable Bobby Orr never pulled it off, the great Paul Coffey came up short, but Green has an opportunity tonight to stand alone by breaking a deadlock with Mike O'Connell, who registered a seven-game goal-scoring streak as a defenseman for the 1983-84 Bruins.

"Things are just going well, and when they go well you just shoot the puck," said Green, 23, who led all NHL defensemen last season with 18 goals. "I've found a balance of when to go and when not to go, and the puck has been going in for me. I don't want to think about the streak ... I'm just enjoying it right now."

So are Green's teammates, who have seen the 29th pick in the 2004 entry draft accumulate 41 points and a plus-22 mark in his past 31 games.

"The biggest thing around here is to take care of your own zone first," fellow Capitals defenseman Tom Poti said. "Mike's been trailing the play really well, and he has that calmness around the net. He's loose and relaxed, and he can wait goalies out."

Green's torrid offensive production threatens to overshadow Washington left winger Alexander Ovechkin, who leads the league with 37 goals and averages almost seven shots per game.

"Green's almost like a Paul Coffey type," said Lightning coach Rick Tocchet, referring to the Hall of Fame defensemen who won three Stanley Cups with Edmonton in the 1980s. "He's a pretty special defenseman right now. Mike Green can shoot some peas out there. I think his shot is among the best in the league."

Green, who averages 25:38 of ice time, has been especially potent with the man advantage, leading the Caps with 14 power-play goals.

All this despite missing three weeks after a November collision with Anaheim's Chris Pronger injured Green's right shoulder.

"Mike's a really good kid, and he just seemed to blossom when Bruce Boudreau took over as coach," said Lightning winger Matt Pettinger, who played with Green in Washington last season. "Everyone knew he had a lot of offensive talent. Now he's playing with some skilled Europeans and he's taking full advantage of the situation."

Although Boudreau coached Green in the American Hockey League at Hershey, he still finds himself startled by Green's rapid development.

"That's pretty good stuff," Boudreau said of Green's current goal streak. "He doesn't have to wind up to get his shot away, and Mike's got the great wrists. He just loves to play. He can go the whole two minutes on our power play and not be exhausted. He and Alex have some kind of lung thing going on."

Lightning fans can be excused for holding their breath tonight whenever Green has the puck on his stick.

Reporter Ira Kaufman can be reached at (813) 259-7833.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT