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Road trip finally ends

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON

eerlendsson@tampatrib.com

Published: September 28, 2009

ATLANTA - After nearly 7,000 miles in the air, five preseason games played in five separate time zones and some exhausting travel, the Lightning officially wrapped up training camp following Sunday's 5-1 victory against the Thrashers.

While perhaps not an ideal situation to do such extensive traveling and play a half-dozen games in such a short period of time, Lightning coach Rick Tocchet was pleased with the way things transpired during the past week.

"And I'm actually proud of the guys. That's asking a lot of the players and I think we managed it pretty well," Tocchet said. "We got enough guys enough games and as much rest as possible. It wasn't as crazy as I thought.

"But I know that everybody is looking forward to getting back to Tampa. It was a tough trip."

Nine days into camp, and with two preseason games already under their belt, the Lightning departed for Regina, Saskatchewan, on Sept. 20, and after playing Ottawa on the 21st, continued on to Everett, Wash.; Loveland, Colo.; Winnipeg, Manitoba; and a brief stop in Norfolk, Va., for an intrasquad meeting at the home of Tampa Bay's minor-league affiliate on consecutive nights.

"I'm extremely happy to be heading home," center Jeff Halpern said. "There wasn't enough time to make it a fun trip, other than having fun in the games. It was a battle the entire time. But as much as I would like to say the travel and the sleep all week was tough, I'm really impressed not with just the 20 guys who played tonight, but the 41 guys on the trip. I thought all played unbelievable.

"I think heading into the season we are going in on a high, so no matter how much anybody hated that trip, for whatever reason I think guys are confident going into the season."

Who Tocchet gets to work with in the next five days before returning to Atlanta on Saturday to open the season is still not determined. Tampa Bay has 29 players remaining on its roster and must cut to 23 by Wednesday.

Sunday's lineup might have been a strong hint as to who will stick.

That included rookie James Wright, Drew Miller and Zenon Konopka, who appear to have won the jobs on the lower lines. With only one extra forward position believed to be available, the team still has veterans Ryan Craig and Adam Hall along with Brandon Bochenski and tryout center Brett McLean. On defense, not in Sunday's lineup were Matt Smaby, Matt Lashoff, Mike Lundin, Lukas Krajicek and David Hale, of which two are expected to stick on the roster.

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

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