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With Time Off, Bolts' Stamkos Starts To Make Impact

The Associated Press

Entering tonight's home game against Buffalo, rookie Steven Stamkos has a four-game point streak, including a third-period tying goal in Tampa Bay's 4-2 home victory against Dallas on Monday night.

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By TONY FABRIZIO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 21, 2009

TAMPA - Ten days of extra conditioning and weight training can't possibly have a major impact on a player's fitness and strength.

Then again, something is different with Tampa Bay Lightning rookie center Steven Stamkos.

Since interim coach Rick Tocchet said he was going to start sitting the No. 1 overall pick occasionally to get him extra conditioning, Stamkos has played with more purpose and physicality.

Entering tonight's home game against Buffalo, Stamkos has a four-game point streak, including a third-period tying goal in Tampa Bay's 4-2 home victory against Dallas on Monday night.

"You never want to sit out games," Stamkos said Tuesday after an optional practice and film study with assistant coach Wes Walz. "But you realize the coaches seem to have a plan in place and ... I've been having success the last four or five games."

After being a healthy scratch for Saturday's 4-3 loss to Florida, Stamkos played well against Dallas, delivering a crunching open-ice hit on Andrew Hutchinson and scoring a goal that only not only evened the score, but also inspired his team.

Vinny Lecavalier followed with his second goal of the night with 5:06 remaining to give the Lightning the lead, and Vinny Prospal added an empty-net goal.

"He's a pretty exciting kid when he scores a goal or something," Tocchet said of Stamkos, who kicked his leg and pumped his fist after scoring. "I think the crowd fed off that, and right after that, there was a six-, seven-minute stretch where our team really took it to another level."

About Stamkos' hit on Hutchinson, Tocchet said, "Obviously, he's not somebody we want to be a bone-crushing guy. But when he gets involved, I think he plays better, and it's like everybody plays better."

Through Jan. 10, Stamkos had four goals and 14 points in 40 games. In his four games since, he has two goals and two assists.

Veteran right winger Marty St. Louis says he is seeing progression.

"He's made tremendous progress in his decision making," St. Louis said. "When you come to this level, everything is magnified, and the players are so much better. You can't try to manufacture offense when it's not there. You have to recognize that, and I think he's doing a better of job of doing that and putting himself in a position where he can be successful."

Reporter Tony Fabrizio can be reached at (813) 259-7994.

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