Can't anyone score?

So what is going on with the offense?

Vinny Lecavalier, Brad Richards, Marty St. Louis, Ruslan Fedotenko, Vinny Prospal, Dan Boyle. There really is no excuse for this group not to be putting up numbers. We've seen it before. We know of what they are capable. Yet, when they get on the ice plays just don't click. They are there, of course. If you watched the Thrashers game, plenty of scoring chances were there just not completed.

Coach John Tortorella kind of admitted after the game the guys were starting to put pressure on themselves, and perhaps that was causing them to grip their sticks too tightly. I would think the danger is that the lack of success early, especially after everyone was watching the power play, might really start playing on their minds.

So what's the solution? Does Tampa Bay just wait for the talent to kick in? Should they revamp the power play? Change up lines? If you were the coach what would you do?

Comments

[cak]

I think the problem lies in the supporting cast. The key offensive change before the start of the Stanley Cup season was the loss of Prospal and the addition of Stillman. At first, I worried that the loss of Prospal would hinder offensive production, but I was obviously wrong. Before last season, the process was reversed and it seemed that the offense regressed (relative to the increases we should have seen with the pro-offense rules changes). I think Prospal is not enough of a role player because he has greater aspirations of being a star than Stillman ever had. The Lightning need to support the stars they have and Stillman did that. Is it only coincidence that Stillman has been on the last two championship teams? Any chance of getting him back from Carolina in a trade?