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Extra time gives Bolts learning opportunity

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By TONY FABRIZIO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 25, 2009

TAMPA - The Lightning are in a stretch in their schedule in which they play only four games in two weeks, and they're all at home.

Coach Rick Tocchet used last week's four open days as something of an extended camp, and he plans a similar schedule this week. Tampa Bay doesn't play again until hosting Ottawa on Thursday night.

"These are days we really need," Tocchet said. "They're valuable days, and we'll basically have the same blueprint. We'll tweak it a little, but we'll be getting after it and doing some more teaching. We're going to implement a couple of new things."

The Lightning held three practices and a non-ice workout last week after a road trip to Ottawa and Pittsburgh in which they were outscored 11-2. They responded well to the practices, beating San Jose 5-2 on Thursday night.

"That was successful for us, and we're going to keep going with it," Tocchet said of the extra work.

Decision time

Rookie C/LW James Wright completed his nine-game tryout Saturday night, and the Lightning have to decide by Thursday's game whether to keep him or send him back to his junior team in Vancouver.

Tocchet reiterated that the 19-year-old, who came to the team's rookie camp last month as a long shot and is still living in a hotel, has done everything the team has asked of him.

"He hasn't done anything for him not to be on the team," Tocchet said, noting that Wright has been given a "simple game plan" that he has embraced.

It would seem Wright has a pretty good chance. He's playing on the No. 1 line with Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis, and he scored his first NHL goal Thursday night.

"He did a couple of things people don't notice, too," Tocchet said before Saturday's game against Buffalo. "Marty and Vinny were in the zone doing their thing, and (Wright) was actually high in the diamond, where we want him, and got the puck back in. Vinny and Marty might have had a chance again.

"It's not on the score sheet - people don't notice it - but the coaches saw it and players know."

Marty's camp

St. Louis, with team official Brian Bradley, will host a youth hockey clinic from 2-4 p.m. today at the Forum. It's part of USA Hockey's American Development Model, in conjunction with the Lightning.

The alternate captain will spend an hour on the ice with some 60 youth hockey players and take questions afterward.

"I'm just going to show up and have fun with the kids," St. Louis said.

Fine tuning

Tocchet said 19-year-old D Victor Hedman, who ranked sixth among rookies in shots on goal entering Saturday, is getting better at knowing when to bolt into the offensive zone.

"He has to make sure we have our (hinge) guy back, and a couple of times, he'll get in there when we don't have anybody back, and (that) gets dangerous," Tocchet said. "But we don't want to take that away from him."

Nuts and bolts

D Paul Ranger was a scratch because of "personal reasons." Kurtis Foster dressed instead. ... LW Drew Miller played against his older brother, Sabres G Ryan Miller, for only the second time Saturday night. The two, with their grandparents, had dinner together at the Italian restaurant Terrazzo in the Marriott Waterside Hotel on Friday night. ... C Steven Stamkos will sign autographs at International Plaza Champs Sports from 6-8 p.m. Monday, and D Matt Walker will be there from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday. Also Tuesday, D Mattias Ohlund will appear at the Westchase McDonald's (12205 West Linebaugh Avenue) for Lightning Radio's "Ice Hot" series. Ohlund will be on air at 7 p.m. and will sign autographs from 8-8:30 p.m.

Tony Fabrizio

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