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Welch A Healthy Scratch For Bolts

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 22, 2009

TAMPA - Lightning D Noah Welch sat out Saturday's game as a healthy scratch. In seven games in a Tampa Bay uniform since being acquired from Florida, Welch has not recorded a point and is a minus-5.

After playing more than 23 minutes in his first two games with Tampa Bay, Welch has played more than 17 minutes once.

Welch, 26, played sporadically this season with the Panthers and spent some time in the minors before being thrust into the Lightning lineup while logging big minutes. He was acquired along with a third-round pick for D Steve Eminger.

"It's always a tough situation when you get traded, but when you are in the NHL you are always going to be put in tough situations," Lightning interim coach Rick Tocchet said. "He's been getting a lot of ice time and getting some good opportunities. I think it's good for him to take a game off here and take a look. It's not just him; it's a lot of guys where the urgency is not there. We are looking for guys who make smarter plays and guys who can play under pressure."

POWER-PLAY CHARGE: Often erratic this season, Tampa Bay's play with the man advantage has been on a roll of late.

With a pair of power-play goals Saturday, the Lightning have scored at least one power-play goal in a season-best six consecutive games. The previous long had been five games, from Jan. 15-27.

During the six-game stretch, the Lightning have scored two or more power-play goals three times while clicking on nine of 28 chances.

MORNING AWAY: Instead of summoning the players to the rink for a routine game-day morning skate, the coaching staff told everyone to take the morning off.

"Throughout the season, players are here so much, sometimes it's not a good idea to come down to the rink. I think sometimes it gets stale," Tocchet said. "I think morning skates are overrated, but I'm a big believer in routine, whether that's getting out on the ice, having meetings or whatever. But to take a morning off, I think today's athletes know what they need to do to be ready to play."

NUTS AND BOLTS: RW Marty St. Louis extended his scoring streak to eight games, a team best this season. ... C Vinny Lecavalier played most of the game on a line with Matt Pettinger and Paul Szczechura. ... LW Vinny Prospal scored his first goal since March 3.

Erik Erlendsson

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