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Bolts's Zonopka brings energy

Staff photo by JASON BEHNKEN

Lightning center Zenon Konapka gets into a scrap with New Jersey's Bryce Salvador earlier this season.

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By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 29, 2009

Updated: 10/29/2009 12:11 am

TAMPA - When Rick Tocchet feels the need for a change of pace, the Lightning coach simply lets the dogs out.

And Zenon Konopka races out front to lead the pack.

Tampa Bay's 28-year-old force field sets the tone for a fourth line that consistently alters momentum and tempo in the Lightning's favor.

"One of the best dogs I ever had was a pit bull," said Konopka, who centers a high-energy line between wingers Todd Fedoruk and Steve Downie. "He was real well-mannered on the leash, but if anyone crossed me or my dad, he'd pounce on them. That's just what me and my guys want to do.

"Whenever Coach Tocchet lets us off the leash, we pounce."

Signed by the Lightning in July, 2008, Konopka has found a comfortable home.

"He's great in the room, he keeps things loose and he's a big part of this hockey team," captain Vinny Lecavalier said. "Konops brings an identity to the team by the way he plays. He's a guy who will do anything for his teammates, and he's the type of guy you need to have a winning team."

Konopka scored 17 goals for Norfolk of the AHL last season, but he knows his job description has changed at the NHL level - along with his ice time.

"I led our team in scoring last year, but I was playing 23 minutes a night," said Konopka, who is averaging 7:43 of ice time with the Lightning. "Now, it's like a vacation for me. It's been so much easier on my body.

"It's fun coming to the rink - the aches and pains are gone."

Tocchet appreciates the aggressive nature of Tampa Bay's fourth line and he sees some skills beyond the spills, especially considering Knopka's faceoff prowess.

Through nine games, Konopka has won 40 of 57 faceoffs, a 70.2 percent success rate that leads the league among players who have taken more than seven draws.

"There's probably times where I have to get him out there more," Tocchet said. "He's producing in that stat, and I'd be crazy not to use him. He really takes pride in his faceoffs and it shows."

Scoring, though, remains a challenge.

Konopka has zero points and 38 penalty minutes through Tampa Bay's first nine games heading into tonight's home matchup against Ottawa.

Konopka's only four NHL goals came with Anaheim in 2005-06. Four years later, this is a man who knows his role.

"Energy, physical play, pound the other team ... that's what we do," he said. "We try to get the boys on the bench going and our crowd going. I like having a smile on my face. Life's short, and too many people are worried about things they can't control.

"Not me. What I can control is having a smile and dressing up like (wrestler) 'Macho Man' Randy Savage at the team Halloween party. We've got hot weather in Tampa, a beautiful city, beautiful women and a great bunch of guys. How can you not smile?"

Reporter Ira Kaufman can be reached at (813) 259-7833.

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