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Tocchet, Bolts Demanding Accountability

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON

eerlendsson@tampatrib.com

Published: March 15, 2009

TAMPA - Searching for all that has gone wrong this season for the Lightning is too easy. It's like trying to find Waldo in a room filled with only one other person.

But on the positive side, there's the coaching staff led by Rick Tocchet, along with Mike Sullivan, Wes Walz and goaltending coach Cap Raeder.

Though the Lightning have had their share of letdowns lately, Tocchet has not allowed the players to get away with it. Following a 9-3 loss to Carolina on March 7, Tampa Bay finished a three-game road trip with a 2-0-1 record that few believed was possible.

After two periods in Florida on Saturday, in which Tocchet described his team as "disinterested," he put the hammer down. Either pick up the level of play in the third period or Sunday could be a rough afternoon.

The players responded with a much better third period and rallied to win in a shootout. Sunday became a day off.

"I don't know if we are going to win or lose a game, but you have to compete," Tocchet said after the game.

That's the type of respect Tocchet has earned and it's expected he soon will be rewarded with the removal of the interim tag on his name.

By bringing back Sullivan, the Lightning added a real student of the game as a player who has carried that over to his coaching duties. He does a lot of the on-ice direction during practice and does a great job of breaking down tape after every game.

It's not guaranteed Sullivan will return next year, as it's believed he will at least explore the possibility of joining John Tortorella in New York as part of the Rangers' staff, but Sullivan and Tocchet form a solid 1-2 punch.

Walz, in his first year as a coach less than a year removed from retirement as a player, has worked closely with overall No. 1 pick Steven Stamkos on the ice and in the video room, helping the rookie get a better understanding of how to play in the defensive zone. The pay-off is noticeable in Stamkos' play at both ends the past month.

And Raeder, who was brought in by former coach Barry Melrose, has done solid work with the rookie tandem of Karri Ramo and Mike McKenna after the loss of Mike Smith and Olie Kolzig to injury. In particular, Raeder has helped Ramo regain his confidence after he lost it for a good portion of this season.

Should all four return next season and they have the chance to implement a full training camp, you have to wonder how much better prepared the team will be next season.

INTERNAL SPAT

There have been plenty of rumors floating around about behind-the-scenes happenings inside the organization and how a power struggle might be taking place, particularly between Oren Koules and Len Barrie.

The latest came Sunday courtesy of Toronto Sun columnist Steve Simmons claiming that Koules and Barrie are not on speaking terms. But that is not the case, as the two owners were spotted together taking in the March 6 game against St. Louis in the owners box.

PETI-OH

Though McKenna is the runaway winner for feel-good story of the season after posting a shutout in his second career start, defenseman Richard Petiot might be an easy choice for second.

The 26-year-old from Daysland, Alberta, hadn't played an NHL game since appearing in two in 2005-06 and was having a difficult time staying in the lineup with the Toronto Marlies in the AHL. He admitted he wasn't sure if he would ever get a shot at the NHL again.

But in three games with the Lightning, Petiot, acquired from the Maple Leafs at the trade deadline, has not looked out of place. In fact, he's fit right in.

During Saturday's game in Florida, Tampa Bay shortened the defensive shifts with Petiot in the regular rotation of four. He logged more than 21 minutes of ice time and picked up his first two career points on third-period assists while finishing as a plus-2.

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

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