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Lightning looking for attitude on four-game road trip

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 2, 2009

PHILADELPHIA - Tampa Bay Lightning coach Rick Tocchet said the four-game road trip that begins tonight against the Flyers carries some importance in terms of defining the team's attitude, especially coming off what might have been their worst game of the season in Saturday's 2-1 shootout loss to New Jersey.

Tampa Bay was 2-0-1 going into the final game of a four-game homestand, only to come out listless and manage nine shots on goal through two periods.

"I think it's a very defining-who-we-are kind of week with the efforts and the buildings we are going to,'' Tocchet said. "When we start to lose focus, we lose our grittiness, you can tell the difference and we are in trouble as a hockey club. But when we are focused and we got a little bit of grit to us, we can compete.''

The last time Tampa Bay ended a homestand with a poor effort, they went on the road for two games and lost both by a combined 11-2. Tocchet hopes the lessons from that stretch carry over into this week, which also includes stops in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.

He said there won't be a spotlight on any particular player, but will look for individuals to pick up their pace toward a collective effort.

"This is kind of a trip where you are looking for your leaders, you are looking at your new guys to really group together here and get this trip off on a good effort after the Jersey game,'' he said.

Baseball royalty
Tampa Bay is sharing the same hotel as the New York Yankees, who are in town for the World Series, and there have been plenty of stars and legends milling around the lobby. In addition to the Yankees, who look to close out their 27th title tonight across the street from Wachovia Center, baseball Hall of Fame players Frank Robinson and Reggie Jackson are staying at the hotel. Actress Kate Hudson, who has been linked with New York third basemen Alex Rodriguez, has also been spotted in the hotel restaurant.

No shortcuts
One of the biggest concerns the coaching staff needs to address, Tocchet said, is making sure no corners are cut when it comes to playing the style of game he wants to see. And when things start to go well, he said, is when a bit of a lackadaisical approach can creep in.

"It's human nature when you get success that maybe you try to cut a little corner, you might read your press clippings and things go a little too easy when it's hard to win,'' he said. "It's hard to make sure you are the third guy back. It's hard to say, 'I can't leave the zone because I'm not sure if we are going to get the puck,' or have the attitude that, 'If we do get the puck I might have a breakaway, but if he doesn't it might be in our net.'

"So, those are the attitudes that we are changing around here, the gambling style. We can't gamble.''

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