No TV tonight

It seems to me very odd there is no Sun Sports production of tonight's game, but that's the way Versus wants it. Its contract with the league allows it to claim exclusivity around the country on nights it shows an NHL game. The cable network picked up its option for tonight because it is showing the Penguins and the Rangers.

So because of that, the only other game on the NHL schedule tonight, the Lightning and Thrashers cannot be shown. How ridiculous is that? As if Versus ratings were to be ruptured because a game between the two worst teams in the East was being shown in Tampa or Atlanta.

Tonight's game is nothing special, really. But if you're a Lightning fan, well, perhaps you might want to see if your team can edge past the Thrashers for fourth in the Southeast. Look, a contract is a contract, I get it. But do you think Versus might show just a little bit of awareness and allow the only other game on the NHL schedule to be shown in the home markets?

Home markets that, by the way, would hardly hurt the already minuscule ratings Versus gets anyway.

Hockey News: Feaster last among GMs

The Hockey News, in its current issue, ranked the NHL's GMs, and Tampa Bay's Jay Feaster was 30th out of 30, down from sixth last year.

The magazine pointed out the bad goaltending decisions, tying up what it said was too much money in Vinny Lecavalier, Brad Richards an Marty St. Louis, and poor drafting, which certainly is a valid criticism.

I like the Hockey News. I even contribute as a freelancer. But 30th? Sorry, don't see it.

The best thing about these rankings is they are a great jumping off point for discussions. So here are the circumstances The Hockey News apparently didn't include in its evaluation of Feaster. You tell me why or why not these factors should mitigate some of what went wrong this season. 

The magazine said the rankings were done by primarily analyzing the past year and what happened at the trade deadline. If that is true, the following should have been in the mix:

Ownership's mandate of a $44-million payroll that may or may not have stopped the team from acquiring goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov in a cheap trade.

The team has been sold twice since August and current owner Palace Sports & Entertainment apparently has abdicated some of its ownership responsibility to Hollywood producer Oren Koules, who has provided no indication he is closing the deal.

The loss of Dan Boyle to a freak skate accident.

This year's trade deadline: Feaster should get high marks for getting goalie Mike Smith, defenseman Alex Picard and forwards Jussi Jokinen and Jeff Halpern for Vinny Prospal and Brad Richards

Could Feaster have done some things things differently? Sure and he will tell you so. But if as The Hockey News says, "A GM's career body of work carries significant weight,'' you would think that a Stanley Cup and four straight playoff seasons would count for something. Guess not.

Other stuff from this morning: As expected, Mike Smith gets the call in net. ... With Smith back in the lineup, Marc Denis, who was called up on an emergency basis, had to be returned to AHL Norfolk. ... The Lightning penalty kill is 52 of 58 in its past 15 games. Coach John Tortorella gave credit to associate coach Mike Sullivan for devising a system that more quickly confronts opponents when they try to cross the blue line. Better goaltending helps as well. ... One thing you can say about the Lightning. The players haven't stopped trying, a feather in their caps considering how far out of the playoffs they have been and for how long. Nothing special there,Tortorella said. "You play hard all the way through. That's what we're paid to do. That's what we're supposed to do.'' ... Sullivan, who will be Tortorella's assistant at the world championship and who was head coach of the United State's 2007 world championship team, said people might be surprised at the level of U.S.-born talent in the league, including players such as Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, Patrick Kane, Peter Mueller, Phil Kessel, Zach Parise. Even Paul Stastny, who has dual citizenship with Canada, played last year for the United States. "I don't think there were a lot of people that thought we would have any sort of competitive edge,'' Sullivan said last year, "and I thought our guys played extremely well,'' losing in a quarterfinal shootout. The lack of buzz, Sullivan agreed, was because it was the first year USA Hockey went without mainstays such as Bill Guerin, Mike Modano, Derian Hatcher. He said the lack of name recognition hurt. "I think there's a volume of American-born players across the NHL right now who are having success and making contributions on their respective teams. This is the best league in the world and that is indicative of how far American players have come.'' ... Tortorella, a candidate to coach the United States at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, said Sullivan also should be up for that job and any NHL job that opens up. "That's how much respect I have for him,'' Tortorella said. ... The trade with the Flyers for Alex Picard is looking better and better as time goes by. With Paul Ranger out, Picard might be Tampa Bay's No. 2 defenseman. ... Center Ryan Craig (knee) skated for 45 minutes Monday in sweats. "It's good to know I can still skate,'' he said.

   

   

Taylor listened to you

For better or worse, Lightning captain Tim Taylor said part of his decision not to play in one last game before retiring was made because some of you, on this blog, expressed distaste of the idea he would be coming back for what you saw as only personal reasons.

As Taylor said late Saturday night:

"You know what it came down to, really? I thought about it. But when I read your blog, and someone said on the blog, 'Why does anyone care if he comes back anyway, it's only for personal reasons,' I thought about that and I said that's exactly what I never wanted this to be about, and that made my decision final about not coming back for sure. I never wanted it to be personal.''

There were other considerations as well. Taylor, 39, who ends a 13-year career with Stanley Cup titles in 2004 with the Lightning and 1997 with the Red Wings, has regained his quality of life thanks to preseason hip resurfacing surgery. He can run seven miles, play racquetball, tennis, golf and get on the floor and play with his kids without pain. The risk/reward of perhaps hurting himself was a factor.

There also was the idea that if he did play Saturday against the Thrashers, it would be in a very limited role. As he said in today's paper: "Two shifts in a hockey game isn't hockey to me. I want to remember being on the ice and knowing what it was like to lose to New Jersey in the (2007) playoffs ... those kinds of games.''

I completely understand and respect that decision. Still, I would have liked to see Taylor play. The game at the end of the season, ultimately, means nothing. I'm sure the Thrashers would have played along and not run Taylor or anything in his limited time on the ice. Perhaps it is because I have come to know and respect him so much, and knowing how much he really meant to this franchise, I hate to see him leave not completely on his own terms. Then again, I can understand after playing the game with passion, not wanting to do something just for show. Either way, I'm sure it was a difficult decision.

But Taylor, who has been practicing with the team, said he has no regrets.

"It's going to be hard,'' he said. "I never thought it was going to hard. I thought it would be really easy because I haven't been playing. But the days are dwindling down now. It's getting tougher. I'm having a lot of fun skating with the guys. I don't regret those days.''

Still, "A week from (Saturday), I'm going to be out on the ice for the last time during the morning skate in Atlanta, and thats the day it's going to be really hard, going off the ice that last time knowing I won't be doing that again.''

The Lightning locker room will be poorer with Taylor's departure. He was a diligent worker behind the scenes making sure newcomers felt welcome, arranging outings, ensuring the players did not break into factions, even when times were tough. That after former Lighting Rob DiMaio had said of the 2005-06 season how difficult it was for a player coming into what had been a tight, tight locker room during the Stanley Cup run, to feel like he fit in 

Taylor said he would love to remain with the team, perhaps as a scout so he could be based in his hometown of Stratford, Ontario, but has not had that conversation with GM Jay Feaster.

   

Taylor won't play to end career

Lightning captain Tim Taylor said before Saturday's game that he has decided not to play in the team's season finale April 5 at Atlanta. Taylor, 39,  has missed the entire season because of preseason hip surgery. Coach John Tortorella gave the center the option of playing in the final game to end his 13-year career.

Taylor has said he wasn't sure the risk of injury was worth it after successful hip resurfacing surgery gave him back his quality of life. Taylor, a center and native of Startford, Ontario, finishes his career with 73 goals, 94 assists in 746 games and Stanley Cup championships in 2004 with the Lightning and 1997 with the Red Wings.

The Lightning has said it would like to keep Taylor in the organization and Taylor has said he would like to do some scouting. That way he could return to Startford, where he is building a home on a seven acre lot.

Smith will dress tonight as backup

He's moving forward with baby steps but Mike Smith's strained left knee has improved enough that he will be on the bench tonight against the Hurricanes backing up Karri Ramo. That means Marc Denis' time with the club is about to be over.

Other stuff from this morning: Defenseman Shane O'Brien is a healthy scratch tonight for the first time this season. That after he was kept off the ice Friday by coach John Tortorella to, as the coach put it, have his own "private workout.'' Torts wouldn't address anything beyond that and O'Brien today decided it is in his best interests not to say anything. ... With O'Brien out we could get a look at Brad Lukowich, who has been out since mid February because of a sports hernia. Lukowich has been skating with the team. That he could be ready to play is amazing in that he had surgery the third week of February. But the less-invasive procedure he had in Germany that does not cut through as much muscle, is supposed to be quick-healing. ... Center Vinny Lecavalier is the Lightning's nominee for the King Clancy Award for his community service. Lecavalier's foundation has pledged $3-million to help construction of a new wing at St. Pete's All Children's Hospital. He and Kane's Furniture have been a long-time partnership to donate money based on Vinny's goals and assists at home games. But Lecavalier said he isn't looking for awards. "Absolutely not,'' he said. "You're definitely happy if they pick you, but you do it for the community and the kids.'' ... Right wing Marty St. Louis said he hasn't decided if he wants to play for Canada in the Wold Championships. With three kids, including a 2-month-old, he said it will be a "family decision'' with wife Heather to figure out if he will accept an invitation. ... Defenseman Matt Smaby said he knows the Lightning wants him to play a more physical game, and he admitted it's a part of his natural game. "The more comfortable I feel, the more my physical game will come out,'' Smaby said. It looked as if Smaby had made some strides with a five-hit game against the Panthers on Tuesday, but he had none Thursday against the Caps. "I'm a little more comfortable,'' Smaby said. "I wouldn't say anything close to comfortable. Baby steps; I'm going to focus on each game and keep it simple.'' ... Captain Tim Taylor and former captain Dave Andreychuk will be on the plaza stage at the St. Pete Times Forum tonight at 6:45 p.m. to answer fan questions. ... Taylor also will sign autographs for charity at the beginning of the second period in Section 122. ...          

A very nice day at practice

I'm going to have a whole story on this in tomorrow's paper, but what the team and the players did at Friday's practice for a sick little boy confirms again that hockey players are the most down to earth of all professional athletes.

Michael Springham, 11, has hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which means, as his father, Robert, explained, "He has half a heart.'' Actually, it means the left side of Michael's heart is under-developed. After three open-heart surgeries at 6 days old, 6 months and 22 months, and with daily medication, Michael's future cautiously optimistic.

Michael, who lives with Robert, mother, Linda, and 12-year-old brother Bryan in Melbourne, is a huge Lightning fan. And through the Make-A-Wish Foundation wished to attend a practice and meet Vinny Lecavalier. The Lightning did even better, allowing Michael to skate with the entire team before practice, dress in the locker room and get quality time with Lecavalier, who was his usual gracious self, giving Michael a personal tour of the facilities and signing a bag-full of Vinny merchandise.

"We wanted it to be a great experience for him,'' Tortorella said. "That's the real stuff. For us to be involved with his family, it was one of the better days around here.''

"Just unbelievable,'' Linda said. "They're all just so very, I can't explain it. I really can't. It's been an awesome experience.''

The family will attend Saturday's game with the Hurricanes at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Also on Friday, defenseman Shane O'Brien did not skate with the team. No reason was forthcoming. All Tortorella said was O'Brien had his own workout. Asked if he wanted to elaborate, Torts said, "I'll leave it at that.''

 

It's official, Torts to coach U.S. team

We knew it was coming but USA Hockey finally made it official, naming Lightning coach John Tortorella as coach of the United States team at the World Championships that begin May 2 in Halifax and Quebec. Lightning associate coach Mike Sullivan will have the same job with the U.S. team.

Like we said, a nice honor but it does mean you have the time since your team is out of the NHL playoffs.

Here is the release sent by USA Hockey:

COLORADO SPRINGS - John Tortorella has been named head coach of the 2008 U.S. Men’s National Team it was announced today by USA Hockey. The current head coach of the National Hockey League’s Tampa Bay Lightning, Tortorella will lead Team USA in the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship May 2-18 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.

“We’re certainly pleased to have someone with John Tortorella’s credentials coaching our world championship team,” said Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations at USA Hockey. “He’s had a lot of success in his career, including winning the Stanley Cup, and knows what it takes to win at the highest level.”

Tortorella was chosen by USA Hockey’s National Team Advisory Group, which is led by Johannson and consists of National Hockey League general managers Brian Burke (Anaheim Ducks), David Poile (Nashville Predators), Ray Shero (Pittsburgh Penguins) and Don Waddell (Atlanta Thrashers).

Tortorella’s only other coaching stint with the U.S. program came when he served as associate coach of the 2005 U.S. Men’s National team that played in the IIHF World Championship in Innsbruck and Vienna, Austria.

“I’m honored to be selected,” said Tortorella, who earlier this season became the all-time winningest American-born coach in NHL history. “It truly is an honor to represent our country and I look forward to the opportunity.”

Tortorella is in his seventh full season as head coach of the Lightning after leading the team to four consecutive Stanley Cup Playoff appearances, its first Eastern Conference and Stanley Cup Championship and two Southeast Division Championships. Voted winner of the 2003-04 Jack Adams Award as the National Hockey League’s top coach after guiding the Lightning to the Stanley Cup, Tortorella’s championship team established franchise records with 46 wins and 106 points before embarking on the successful playoff campaign.

A 17-year National Hockey League coaching veteran, Tortorella became the fourth head coach in team history when he was named to that position on January 6, 2001. The Boston native joined the Lightning organization when he was hired as an associate coach prior to the 2000-01 season.

Tortorella began his playing career at Salem State College before transferring to the University of Maine. He spent three seasons with the Black Bears and was twice named an Eastern College Athletic Conference all star. After playing in Sweden, Tortorella played in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League with Virginia, Hampton Roads and Erie.He spent two seasons as the general manager and head coach of the Virginia Lancers (Atlantic Coast Hockey League) from 1986-87 to 1987-88, where he garnered Coach of the Year honors during both campaigns while leading his ‘86-87 team to the league championship.

Tortorella was hired as an assistant coach with the New Haven Nighthawks of the American Hockey League for the 1988-89 campaign. He became an assistant coach with the Buffalo Sabres the following season, and remained with the Sabres organization through the 1996-97 season. The Sabres named him the head coach of their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans, prior to the 1995-96 season. His Rochester team won the Calder Cup in 1996 and followed that up with the best record in the AHL’s Northern Conference during the 1996-97 regular season.

Tortorella returned to the NHL in 1997 as an assistant with the Phoenix Coyotes, where he spent two seasons before joining the Rangers for 1999-2000. He served as the Rangers' interim head coach for the final four games of the '99-00 season before joining the Lightning staff.

Tortorella and his wife, Chris, reside in Valrico, with their two children, Brittany and Dominick.

NOTES: Tortorella is the winningest coach in Lightning history and also the winningest American-born coach in NHL history … The players for the 2008 U.S. Men’s National Team as well as additional staff members will be named in the coming weeks … Team USA will conduct a training camp from April 24-30 in Portland, Maine, including a pre-tournament game against Sweden on Sunday, April 27, at 7 p.m. (EDT) at the Cumberland County Civic Center. Tickets for that game can be acquired by visiting www.theciviccenter.com.

Boyle cut near his throat

Before anyone gets all nutty about what appeared to be Lightning defenseman Dan Boyle giving up on the play leading up to Tomas Fleischmann's overtime goal in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Capitals, consider that Boyle was bleeding from a four- or five-inch cut to his throat after he was slashed by the skate blade of Washington's Mike Green.

As it turned out, it wasn't terribly serious. Boyle did not need stitches but his voice was gravely because of what he said was a bruise in his throat. Team spokesman Bill Wickett and the damage could have been worse had not the skate clipped Boyle's sternum, which protected him from more problems.

"It scared the (bleep) out of me,'' Boyle said later. "All I knew is at that moment I was sliced open.''

The play occurred at the end of Green's rink-long rush. As Green churned toward the net he was pushed by Tampa Bay's Shane O'Brien. Boyle, who was knocked down by Washington's Brooks Laich, slid into Green just as Green's left leg elbowed up, exposing his skate blade.

Boyle said he likely will say a little prayer of thanks. But as he said, "What a miserable year. What more can happen?''

You know the details. Boyle missed 45 games because of two surgeries on his left wrist after a skate fell out of his locker after a preseason game against the Capitals, and on Wednesday he had to leave practice when he was kicked in the head by the skate of heels-over-head teammate Andreas Karlsson. And considering the Richard Zednik situation, well, the whole thing could have been much worse.

"I was pretty sacred for my life, really,'' Boyle said.

FYI: If you saw coach John Tortorella going bonkers on the bench after the Capitals goal that tied the score 3-3 with 4:48 left in the third period, it was because he, and the Lightning players, did not believe Green gave as much effort as he should have to touch the puck on the icing that brought the puck back to the Lightning zone for a faceoff that led to Alexander Semin's goal.

Capitals Bruce Bourdreau disputed that notion.

"He played 30 minutes,'' Boudreau said. "He was tired. He went back as hard as he could. He was on the ice for 2 1/2 minutes.''

We can forgive Boudreau for sticking up for his player. But the fact is, Green played only 23:53 in the game and the shift that led to that icing was only 43 seconds.

Denis to back up Ramo; how 'bout Norrena?

Lightning goaltender Mike Smith said he is encouraged by the progress of his strained left knee, but said he didn't believe he could be on the bench tonight against the Capitals. That means Marc Denis will back up Karri Ramo.

Before we go any further, it probably is worth noting here that one of the pieces the Lightning gave up to get Denis from the Blue Jackets, Fredrik Norrena, had his second shutout of the season Wednesday over the Blackhawks, though it isn't like he's tearing up the league with a 2.70 goals-against average and an .897 save percentage.

But back to Smith, who was hurt in Monday's practice when Marty St. Louis fell on him in a breakaway drill. He said his pain is "minimal'' but added, "Some positions are worse than others. You play the same but you don't have the confidence because of the pain thing.

As for Denis, who hasn't played for the Lightning since allowing three goals on 15 shots in 40 minutes of work Dec. 18 against the Thrashers, he says he has no hard feelings against the Lightning because of the way things worked out. He said he is not worried one way or another if the Lightning buys him out over the summer, as is the likely plan.

Of playing for AHL Norfolk, where he is 9-15-2 in 28 games with a 3.02 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage, he said, "You learn every day. I don't care if by far I'm the oldest guy on that team or by far the oldest guy on the ice, period, both teams combined. It doesn't matter. I learn something every day. I will take a lot from that experience, and I have that belief I'll be a better person and a better goalie because of it. ... I'll bounce back. I'm very confident I'll do that.''

Other stuff from this morning: Big surprise coach John Tortorella did not want to talk about being named the United States coach for the World Championships. ... He said he liked defenseman Filip Kuba has contributed two goals and five points in his past three games, but added, "I wish it was going during the year when it really counted for something.'' ... Torts said he gets no pleasure out of the Lightning playing a spoiler role. "Only with Florida,'' he said. "I don't like Florida.'' But seriously, "There's no satisfaction in anything we're doing as far a the situation we're in. We're out. We play the game to get into the playoffs and do some damage. It's nice to talk about because there really is nothing else to talk about when you're not playing for the playoffs. I just want my team to play hard. I want us to continue to try to improve in the areas we can and I'm really looking forward to trying to reset ourselves next year and get back to a mind-set of being a playoff team.'' ... Speaking of playing hard, the Lightning hasn't gotten much out of Vinny or Marty the past two games after their brief offensive spurts. That's why it is notable the two stars will be joined by Mathieu Darche on left wing tonight. Darche got moved up to that line in the third period of Tuesday's game after the top line, along with everyone else, really, played a poor second period. But, you know, anything that happens with the top guys resonates more, so Torts, without naming names, took this shot. "I don't understand why I have to change any line to get some people to play harder. I don't think they were playing hard. I thought they played hard in the third period. ... I think it gets contagious when they see a bubble guy with this team fighting for his life and playing hard, it forces them to play. It (makes me mad) we have to do that. No matter where we are in a season, I think you need to play hard. We'll see where that one goes.'' ... The problem with moving Darche, of course, is that you break up what has been the team's best line with Darche, center Jeff Halpern and Michel Ouellet. ... On Halpern: "No question he has been our best offensive player and our best defensive player since he's been here.''

    

Tortorella to coach at Worlds

So, as we read in today's paper, Lightning coach John Tortorella has been chosen by USA Hockey to coach in this year's World Championships in Canada. Word is he is bringing associate coach Mike Sullivan with him.

Double-edged sword, here. It's a nice honor to have that on your resume, but it also means your team is not going to the NHL playoffs, since the tournament in Halifax and Quebec begins May 2.

Be that as it may, seems Torts and USA Hockey are on the same page when it comes to their vision for the panel. Torts talked to the organization and it's four-GM panel about stocking the team with younger, hungrier players than the older players that have been a signature of USA teams in the past. That is a good thing. That is the kind of team from which Torts can get the most.

This also is kind of an audition for Torts, who is a leading candidate to coach the United States at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

USA Hockey declined to comment, pending a soon-to-be-made announcement, and the Lightning would not comment in deference to USA Hockey's process. But an announcement is to be made soon.

Imagine the scene if the United States knocks Russia out of the semifinals. Torts at his postgame press conference. "It looks good on 'em,'' he will say. "I never liked that organization.''

Those of you who recall his statements after the recent Panthers game will get that. For the rest: it's a joke.

It will be Tortorella's first head coaching gig internationally, having been an associate to Peter Laviolette at the 2005 World Championships in Austria. Sullivan was an associate under Laviolette at the 2006 Turin Olympics and the head coach at the 2007 World Championships in Russia.

Boyle gets kicked in the head

Lightning defenseman Dan Boyle sat in front of his locker at the St. Pete Times Forum after Wednesday's practice, rubbing with his fingers the right side of his head.

"If I wasn't wearing my helmet,'' he said, his voice trailing off.

Boyle had to leave practice after he was kicked in the head by tumbling teammate Andreas Karlsson in a scene that reminded of Florida's Richard Zednik getting his neck cut by the skate of his tumbling teammate.

"A scary thing,'' Karlsson said.

Karlsson said he was driving to the net when he tripped and flipped over and his skate blade smacked Boyle in the head. Boyle skated quickly off the ice and threw his stick to the ground as he went to the locker room.

Several minutes after gathering himself in the locker room, Boyle was seen walking the hallway outside the locker room. He was still rubbing his head.

Also at pracrice: defenseman Brad Lukowich skated with the team for the first time since sports hernia surgery in late February. Lukowich said he felt "good'' but was nervous. "You don't want to look terrible,'' he said.

Denis clears recall waivers

As expected, goaltender Marc Denis cleared recall waivers at noon today and is on his way to Tampa.

Lightning general manager Jay Feaster said goalie Mike Smith is day to day with a strained left knee. If he is not ready to go Thursday against the Capitals, Denis will be Karri Ramo's backup. Denis is being brought up on an emergency basis, meaning as soon as Smith is ready, Denis must go back to Norfolk.

The way Smith sounded Tuesday night, it should not be a long recall. Will Denis play a game? Probably hinges on how fast Smith gets back. On the other hand, this is a great opportunity for Ramo to carry the ball for a bit, even if it is a short bit.

Coach John Tortorella was pretty strong Tuesday that he believes Ramo would be better served starting next season in the minors as a way to get playing time and experience. Ramo, of course, doesn't see it that way. An extended stretch as a starter in which he has some success might go a ways to changing Torts' mind.

Torts takes a shot at the Panthers

Just one small moment from coach John Tortorella's postgame meeting with reporters after beating the Panthers 3-1 and helping to dim their fading playoff hopes.

Reminded that before the game he said he wouldn't mind making things miserable for Florida, which is battling for the East's final playoff spot, Tortorella said, "Yeah, I don't mind that,'' he said. "I make no bones about it, I'm not crazy about the organization. I don't mind that at all. It looks good on 'em.''

Smith says injury is minor

Goaltender Mike Smith said his injured left knee is nothing more than a strain and he is, basically, day to day. That is good news for the Lightning, but the team still has many parts in motion because of the situation.

Consider: Jonathan Boutin was called up from AHL Norfolk on an emergency basis to back up Karri Ramo Tuesday night against the Panthers. Boutin is now on his way back to Norfolk because Tampa Bay anticipates Marc Denis clearing recall waivers at noon today and being called up to Tampa. That doesn't mean Denis will even suit up. He won't get here in time to practice on Wednesday and depending on how Smith feels, he might not get be on the bench Thursday against the Capitals.

As for Smith, he said everyone believed his knee was fine when he left practice Monday, despite the seeming pain he was sin after Marty St. Louis fell on him late in practice during a breakaway drill. But Smith said the knee flared up overnight, prompting an MRI exam that coach John Tortorella said showed "no structural damage at all.''

So now, it's just a wait and see to when Smith says he feels well enough to play. As he said, "I've played in pain before, so we'll see what I can do.''

Defenseman Paul Ranger also had an MRI exam on his injured left shoulder. Team spokesman Bill Wickett said the test was "inconclusive'' and Ranger will have further tests this week. He was hurt March 19 against the Sabres when checked into the side boards. He has what the team is calling a subluxation.

Smith is hurt, is it bad?

We won't find out until tonight, when Lightning goaltender Mike Smith will see the doctor, but consider that the team is calling up Jonathan Boutin from AHL Norfolk to be the backup to Karri Ramo for tonight's game against the Panthers and is putting Marc Denis on 24-hour re-call waivers so they can get him in here.

Smith was hurt during a breakaway drill at the end of Monday's practice when Marty St. Louis fell over him. He was in enough pain to be down on the floor of the locker room in full gear while his left knee was being looked at by trainer Tommy Mulligan.

Even so, the report from the team was that Smith was fine. Now, he isn't. Guess the knee didn't react well overnight.

Wouldn't that just fit how this season is going if Smith were significantly injured? The team trades one of its marquee players for whom it hopes is its goalie of the future, and what happens? They get Boutin for tonight and then, perhaps, Denis. That is if he is not claimed on recall waivers.

FYI: Boutin is 12-15-5 with a 3.25 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage and two shutouts in 34 games with the Admirals. Denis is 9-15-3 with a 3.09 goals-against average, a .905 save percentage and one shutout in 28 games.

More to come, obviously.

Other stuff from this morning: Coach John Tortorella said he was going to play Smith in tonight's game, but, of course, is now forced to go to Ramo. That is an interesting situation as well. Ramo got lit up pretty good his last game against the Sabres. "I'm concerned,'' Tortorella said about playing Ramo, "but I also want to see how he reacts.'' ... Speaking of Ramo, Tortorella said he believes the goalie needs to begin next season in the minors. "I'm worried is this the proper process for him,'' Tortorella said. Ramo has had a difficult season. He missed a significant amount of time in Norfolk at the start of the season with a high ankle sprain, and his time with the Lightning has been uneven. Tortorella said he believes Ramo should guide Norfolk for a full season, carry the load, so to speak, to understand what that is really like before getting a full season, as a backup in the NHL." GM Jay Feaster said no decision has been made, though it could be a discussion after the season's evaluations are done. But if Ramo is sent down, it will add yet another element to what will be a busy summer. ... Center Jeff Halpern (abdominal strain) is expected to play. ... Tortorella on the playoff-hungry Panthers who enter tonight three points out of the East's eighth and final playoff spot: "We definitely want to put (the Panthers) out of your misery tonight. I'm sure they'll have something to say about it.'' ... Tortorella said he didn't want to make any evaluations on defenseman Matt Smaby after only two games since his call-up from Norfolk, but bottom line, he wants him to play meaner. He also reiterated concerns about Smaby's foot speed, but added, "He can make up foot speed with quicker decisions.''

Note on Fan Appreciation Nights: captain Tim Taylor and Dave Andreychuk will be on the St. Pete Times Forum plaza stage to answer questions 6:45-7:15 p.m. before games Saturday against the Hurricanes and Monday against the Thrashers. ...      

Taylor could play April 5

Here's a nice story, if it happens:

Lightning coach John Tortorella has given captain Tim Taylor the option of playing in the team's final game of the season April 5 at Atlanta. It would be a way for the center to finish his 13-year career as a player instead of on the sideline, where he has been since Sept. 7 hip surgery.

"He deserves that type of respect,'' Tortorella said. "He's been a loyal guy to the organization and has done a lot of things on and off the ice people don't even know about, so he deserves that right.''

The surgery is called hip resurfacing and corrected his painful, right-hip dysplasia by shaving and smoothing the head of the femur, topping it with a chrome alloy cap and fitting it into the hip socket that also was coated.

Taylor, 39, said he is "ecstatic'' at the results. He has skated since mid February but has practiced fewer than 10 times.

"I don't want to say yes. I don't want to say no,'' Taylor said of playing. "Now I'm practicing every day. Maybe the last day of the season, maybe I get that itch.''

If Taylor doesn't play, he will end his career with 746 games, 73 goals, 167 points and Stanley Cups with the Lightning in 2004 and Red Wings in 1997.

Seemed the more we talked about it Monday at the Ice Sports Forum, the more Taylor liked the idea of playing.

"That would be nice,'' he said. "To sit on the bench at the end of a game and to know, 'Okay, it's over now,' would be really nice.''

Injury updates: Jeff Halpern (abdominal strain) said he will decide today whether to play against the Panthers. ... Defenseman Paul Ranger is scheduled for an MRI exam on his injured left shoulder. ... Goalie Mike Smith hurt a knee in a breakaway drill enough that he ran into the locker room, threw his stick and laid down on the locker room floor in pain. A team spokesman later said Smith was, basically, fine.

Fan Appreciation Nights

Each of the Lightning's final four games, starting Tuesday against the Panthers, will be fan appreciation nights with giveaways, autographs, food specials, etc. Here is the information sent out by the team:

The Tampa Bay Lightning will host Fan Appreciation Days during their final four home games of the 2007-08 season.  The games will feature numerous enhanced fan experiences, player accessibility, giveaways, promotions and food and beverage specials.

The Lightning have remaining home games on Tuesday, March 25 against the Florida Panthers in the final game of the Florida Blue Cup, Thursday, March 27 against Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Captials, Saturday, March 29 against the Southeast Division-leading Carolina Hurricanes and Monday, March 31 against the Atlanta Thrashers.

“We always try to give our fans the best experience possible,” St. Pete Times Forum and Lightning president Ron Campbell said.  “We want to encourage our loyal followers to come and get acquainted with our new faces and we want to attract new fans to give them the opportunity to see one of the best environments in hockey while meeting some of the best people in professional sports, including our players and those who help us bring the game to them at the arena and in their homes.”

All Lightning players will walk the red carpet on the Chrysler-Jeep Plaza from the circle drive in front of the St. Pete Times Forum to Shots at Channelside on the way to the locker room before each of the final four games.  Players will begin to arrive around 4:30 p.m.  Team posters will be given away at each game for fans to have autographed.

Fans will have the chance to enter to win exclusive Lightning experiences during all remaining games, including the chance to sit in the radio booth with Dave Mishkin and Phil Esposito, visit the press box and talk with one of the players not in the lineup for the game, participate in St. Pete Times Forum game operations and be the one to hit the goal horn button, win a trip to Luke’s Sports Grill in Dallas to have dinner with Brad Lukowich, be ice level in the penalty box during pre-game warm-ups and get up close and personal with in-arena announcer Paul Porter from ice level for a period. In addition, all fans in attendance during the final four games may register to win a SeaDoo that will be given away at center ice on March 31.

Players who are not in the lineup each game will sign autographs on the terrace, Jeep Club and plaza levels during intermissions at all four games.  At each game fans will have the chance to ride the Zamboni, dance with the Lightning Girls, sign a giant Lightning jersey that will be displayed in the St. Pete Times Forum and receive various food and drink specials including $1 hot dogs at all games.  Fans can also take to the stage in Shots and play Guitar Hero with Lukowich.

Former and current Lightning captains Dave Andreychuk and Tim Taylor will participate in a question and answer session from 6:45 p.m. until 7:15 p.m. on the plaza stage before games on March 29 and 31.  After the final game fans will have the opportunity to cut a piece of the game nets when they are brought up to Shots after the game.

Special giveaways for the final four games include free Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Lightning car flags and thunder sticks, team posters, Lightning t-shirts, as well as McDonald’s and Bright House Networks player cards.

Vinny: surgery possible, Worlds are iffy

It apparently will be a while before we know if Vinny Lecavalier will need surgery on his left wrist. The Lightning center said Saturday the first option will be to rest after the season (though he did not rule out playing in the World Championships, saying, "We have to do more evaluation'') and then figure out where things stand.

Lecavalier did not fly with the team Friday from Pittsburgh to Fort Lauderdale. Rather he went to a scheduled appointment with Philadelphia orthopedist Lee Osterman, who last summer performed what had been a previously undisclosed procedure on the wrist to clean up, as Lecavalier's agent Kent Hughes said, some "loose ends.'' Lecavalier said the visit was not prompted by any new injury.

Lecavalier, who will play tonight against the Panthers, said Osterman said everything "looked real good'' as far as what was fixed in the previous surgery. Lecavalier did not reveal specifics but said he has dealt with pain in both wrists all season, but especially the left wrist, despite the surgery, has developed some "sharp pain.'' He would not say how much it has hampered him through the season.

"I just don't want to get too much into it,'' he said.

What he did say is that there is no plan to shut him down and expects to play in the team's final eight games.

"I think rest will be the best thing to do,'' Lecavalier said. "If it can get better by rest, then that's great.''

Other stuff from this morning: Center Jeff Halpern, who left Thursday's game with the Penguins with an abdominal strain, will sit out tonight but said he would return to the lineup, "Tuesday, for sure,'' against the Panthers at the St. Pete Times Forum. ... Mike Smith, who took a step back against the Penguins with some bad puck-handling and less consistency stopping pucks, starts in goal. ... Coach John Tortorella said at the time he was hurt, defenseman Paul Ranger was playing better than Dan Boyle. Tortorella called Ranger "untouchable'' on an ever-changing roster and one of the league's most underrated players. Ranger will miss the rest of the season with a subluxation of the left shoulder. ... As for Boyle, who is minus-19, Tortorella said, "I just think he needs a clean slate to start a new year.'' ... With Halpern out, the lines will have yet another new look. Lecavalier's line is the same, but Craig MacDonald moves up to second-line center with Michel Ouellet and Mathieu Darche. Andreas Karlsson will center Nick Tarnasky and Junior Lessard, and Karl Stewart centers Jason Ward and Doug Janik, who should get more than two shifts as he got against the Penguins. Then again, that's what happens when you blow an easy clearing play that costs a goal. ... On the makeshift lineup, Tortorella said, "I think the team is generating as much offense as it can. But we are what we are right now. We knew at the trade deadline it was going to knock us down a little bit. We never complain about what we have, but I also have to be honest with my assessment of the hockey club. When a Pittsburgh turns it up like that. We can't match them offensively right now. So, we're fighting hard. That's all I want to see out of our team, to keep on fighting and see where we go.''  ... Panthers coach Jacques Martin said the way to beat the Lightning is to forecheck the young defense. "We have to exploit the defense. That's one area where we can apply pressure and create some turnovers.'' ... Tortorella said defenseman Filip Kuba has been playing well. ... Tortorella on the Lightning's miserable third periods; in consecutive games, Tampa Bay allowed goals 16 seconds apart: "It's taken on a life on its own here. That's what's happened with our third periods.''    

Vinny might need surgery; out of WC

Kent Hughes, agent for Lightning star Vinny Lecavalier, said Friday his client might need surgery on his left wrist in the offseason and at the very least almost certainly will not play in the spring's World Championships.

Hughes said no final determination has yet been made yet on the wrist he said underwent an arthroscopic procedure last summer to clean up "loose ends,'' and that he suspects the diagnosis for the immediate end of the season will be to "rest it and see how it reacts.''

Lecavalier, 27, has followed up a breakout season in 2006-07, in which he scored 52 goals and won the Rocket Richards Trophy, with a less-spectacular, though workman-like season. He scored his 40th goal Thursday night against the Penguins to become the first Lightning player to twice score at least 40. He is one point short of a second straight season with at least 90 points and one point short of his 600th NHL point.

"I've said it a million times, I'm lucky to play with the wingers I do,'' said Lecavalier, who has eight goals in his past six games and is playing with wings Marty St. Louis and Jussi Jokinen. "It helps when you have smart wingers. I keep shooting and sometimes you get on a role like that. But it's all about confidence and right now it's going well, I guess, with that.''

Hughes said the painful wrist is something Lecavalier "has had to deal with,'' and it is often that the native of Ile Bizard, Quebec, has the wrist iced after games, though Lecavalier always has maintained it was just part of the normal "bumps and bruises'' of a season.

 

Halpern out, too

Don't know how serious or any details except Jeff Halpern, who has been so good for Tampa Bay since being acquired from the Stars in the Brad Richards deal, left Thursday night's game early in the first period with an abdominal strain. He is not expected to return.

Halpern already had been dealing with a back strain and was not taking faceoffs. Halpern likely will be re-evaluated Friday in Ft. Lauderdale.

Ranger done for the season

That's not official only in that defenseman Paul Ranger will go for an MRI when the team returns from a three-game road trip after Saturday's game with the Panthers. But trainer Tommy Mulligan said Ranger will need at least two weeks to recover from a subluxation of his left shoulder sustained in the third period of Wednesday's meltdown against the Sabres when he was checked into the glass by Daniel Paille. And with generally two weeks left in the season, it is realistic Ranger will probably sit.

Whether he needs surgery will be determined by the MRI. If the shoulder ligaments simply stretch and are not torn, rehab should do the trick.

Ranger said the blow from Paille wasn't anything unusual and he did not hit the glass with any force greater than what he experienced before. "So I don't know if it was the force of him hitting me or me going into the boards, I don't know,'' Ranger said.

Asked if this late in the season it matters that he likely will miss the team's final nine games, Ranger said, "Of course it matters. I'm still a hockey player. I know we're out of the playoffs, but there are still some games left to bond with the guys and play with the guys and play to win. As much as we're out of the playoffs, you still want to play and you still want to win. We want to prepare ourselves for next year and better ourselves as players.''

Doesn't seem as if the Lightning will make any moves to fill Ranger's spot, especially with Doug Janik and Mike Lundin being healthy scratches. Tampa Bay had spoken about perhaps getting a look at Vladimir Mihalik from AHL Norfolk, but the Lightning has used it's four call-ups alowed after the trade deadline on Alex Picard, Karl Stewart, Matt Smaby and Junior Lessard. The four call-up rule is in place so NHL teams don't raid the AHL franchises.

Tampa Bay could call up Mihalik on an emergency basis, but right now that doesn't seem likely.

You saw history: According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Buffalo's 7-4 victory Wednesday in which the Sabres scored six unanswered goals in 14:51 was only the fifth time in NHL history a team won a game by three or more after trailing by at least three in the third period. The last time was Feb. 1, 1989, when the Blackhawks beat the old Jets 7-4.   

Other stuff from this morning: Goaltender Karri Ramo said he will try to shake off Wednesday's third period in which he gave up five goals on 15 shots. He said he believes he was trying to do too much while making saves, which took himself out of the position "instead of letting the puck come to me.'' ... No surprise Mike Smith starts in goal tonight. ... Wing Jason Ward, who was benched in the third period and hasn't played more than 8:04 in his past eight games, will be a healthy scratch. "He's playing himself right off the team with some of the decision-making he's making,'' coach John Tortorella said. ... Said Ward: "I just got to keep working hard and that's all I can do.'' ... With center Jeff Halpern's back hurting to the point he cannot take faceoffs, more faceoff duty has fallen to Vinny Lecavalier, who was only 40 percent (10-for-25) against the Sabres. Lecavalier has won 48.4 percent of draws all season. Fifty percent is considered good. "Sometimes I've got to focus more on it,'' Lecavalier said. "You want to have the puck as much as you can. if you lose every faceoff, you're always starting chasing and that gets you more tired.'' ... With Ward out, coach John Tortorella said he will go with 11 forwards and seven defensemen tonight. That means Janik, a healthy scratch the past five games, will be back in the lineup, though Tortorella said he would spot the speed-skating Janik at forward. ... Tortorella said Smaby, in his first game since his call-up from Norfolk, played pretty well in 12:17 of ice time. He said Smaby kept up with the speed of the game, but now has to work on his decision making. ... The Lightning has lost 20 games this season, 14 in regulation, in which it has entered the third period either tied or with a lead. ... Wouldn't it have been nice for players such as defensemen Dan Boyle, Filip Kuba and Shane O'Brien to step up and calm things down in the third period after Ranger was hurt? ... Is it just me or is Picard about to blow past O'Brien on the depth chart?         

Smaby gets a shot

Coach John Tortorella swears it isn't because Mike Lundin is still hurting from the ankle injury he sustained against the Rangers, but defenseman Matt Smaby will get the call tonight against the Sabres. Lundin did skate this morning, so as Torts said he seems okay. But the coach said playing Smaby is part of the evaluation process that has begun for next season.

Smaby played four games with Tampa Bay earlier this season and showed some promise. But Torts said Smaby was sent down with orders to improve his stick work and his foot speed.

"Definitely,'' Smaby said. "Most everyday in practice I'll do some footwork stuff, and I'm always conscious about my stick, having it in the right position. So, yeah, it's things I've focused on.''

How do you work on foot speed?

"Drills like in tight, moving your feet quickly where you're moving your body in a position it doesn't want to be in and trying to get out of it,'' Smaby said.

Smaby, 23, the 41st overall pick of the 2003 draft, said he understands that, in a sense, he is auditioning for next season, and said he is taking this call-up very seriously.

"Very seriously,'' he said. "I know kind of where they sit and I just want to play really well and show I have improved and see what happens from there.''

   Other stuff from this morning: Smaby has a shiner under his right eye that he said he got from a face plant during a recent fight while playing for AHL Norfolk. ... Karri Ramo gets the start tonight even though Mike Smith has been red hot lately, stopping 55 of 56 shots his last two outings. That seems to indicate Smith will play Thursday at Pittsburgh, but who knows how it shakes out in Torts' mind. ... Tortorella said left wing Jussi Jokinen, who has been playing on Vinny Lecavalier's line, is probably not a top three forward in the grand scheme of things, but is definitely a top six. He also praised Jokinen for getting into better condition to handle the extra minutes he has played since being acquired from the Stars in the Brad Richards deal and for being stronger on the puck. "He listens and he takes the coaching,'' Tortorella said. ... The coach said left wing Mathieu Darche, who has played so well on a line with center Jeff Halpern and Michel Ouellet, has been the team's best corner man the last few weeks. ...  How well has the Lightning defended? Torts said the team is averaging just 11 or 12 chances against the past 25 games. Imagine if the top guys had been scoring. ... Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said the Lightning is a dangerous team because it is "a team that's probably a little on the loose side with nothing to lose.'' Tortorella said he understood where Ruff was coming from and "I'm sure he didn't mean it as  slap in the face. But I take it as a slap in the face. We're probably showing more tape now than when we were in the hunt. We're working every day to get better.'' ... With 10 games left, Tortorella said, "The toughest time for me is when I wake up in the morning. The first couple of hours are like, 'Aw (bleep),' we're not in the playoffs. We sink our teeth into teaching the new guys and it kind of takes the pain away.''

Vinny, Marty and Andre; Flyers' lack of respect

It was hard to get to the bottom of it, completely, because several of the participants declined to talk about it. But it seems one of the most important aspects of the Andre Roy situation was the role played by team leaders Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis.

While investigating what to do with Roy while he was on what basically was a 10-game suspension, GM Jay Feaster spoke to a lot of people, including the coaching staff, Roy's agent, Pat Brisson, and Lecavalier and St. Louis. It is believed the support of Roy's teammate was key in keeping Roy in the team's good graces.

St. Louis declined to talk about it. So did coach john Tortorella -- "Don't ask me questions about Andre'' -- and Feaster. But Lecavalier said the message from the players was, "We wanted Andre back as soon as we could. We know Andre is emotional and by embarrassing him on the scoreboard, that's when the emotions came out. But 99.9 percent of the time, his emotions are in check. He goes out there for his teammates. I feel protected when he's playing. He's a big part of the team.''

"That's big-time,'' Roy said of the sentiment. "That the leaders did that ... that's basically why I'm here.''

Roy said he will be all right with it if he doesn't play again this season; it will be a coaches decision. And he said he hopes the situation does not change the Lightning's sentiment to re-sign him for next season.

"I'm just going to work hard and do my best,'' Roy said, "my usual thing.''

As for Flyers players whom Roy said was laughing at him as Riley Cote's one-punch fight victory was shown over and over on the Wachovia Center scoreboard, Roy said, "That showed no respect. We all have a job to do. I got ringed. It's part of the game. But at that point I just wanted to go in and show.''      

He wanted a rematch

That was it. That's what Andre Roy said had him so hot and bothered March 6 against the Flyers. He got rung up by Riley Cote with one punch, was upset that he looked bad and wanted to go at him again. He was hot in the locker room between the second and third periods and when the Wachovia Center kept showing the replay and the fans were chirping and the Flyers laughing, he went off.

"There team smiling and laughing when I looked over, that got me even more pissed off,'' Roy said. "They showed no respect, some of the guys there. For what we do, we all have a job to do.''

Even so, Roy said he "overreacted'' on the bench when he pointed fingers at the Flyers bench, made throat-slashing motions and yelled, "You're (bleepin') dead.'' It was then coach John Tortorella grabbed Roy by the shoulders and pushed him down into his seat on the bench.

"I'm in a zone where ... enforcers, we understand, sometimes when you get mad you go in this zone where, I can't explain it,'' Roy said.

Tortorella didn't want to talk about it, as usual. But Roy said he hoped the incident is behind him. He's going to shut up and play his game and he hopes this does not affect the Lightning's willingness to sign him during the summer. As forgetting in  game, it may happen but not anytime soon. That in and of itself will be a god test for Roy to see how he handles the adversity of being around the team but not being able to play. How does he practice, how does he prepare? The coaches and management certainly will be watching.

"I just want to be part of this right now, to be with the team,'' Roy said. "If I don't play, I don't. I'm just going to work hard and o my best, my usual thing.''

Pretty good fight in practice between defenseman Shane O'Brien and forward Karl Stewart. A bit of a height mismatch as O'Brien is 6-foot-2, 224 and Stewart is 5-11, 185. O'Brien got in several good shots to Stewart's face before Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis stepped in to break things up. O'Brien, though, kept shaking his left (punching) hand and had to go off the ice for a moment. He said in the locker room he was fine.

Stewart said it was just one of those things.

"Just part of the battles,'' he said. "We were battling. Just two competitive guys going at it.''

Also, defenseman Mike Lundin practiced and said his sore left ankle had healed up faster than he thought it would and did not have much swelling.

It was unclear who would be in the lineup defensively Wednesday against the Sabres.

Andre returns to the ice

Sorry for the lack of posts over the weekend. I had a small medical situation to deal with and was unable to get to a computer.

Anyway, the Andre Roy drama continues today as the left wing will practice for the first time since being sent home after the Flyers game on March 6 in which he went a little haywire. Seems, though, no decision has been made on whether he will play Wednesday in Buffalo. Sounds like it will be a coaching decision as the game gets closer but given how much time the team kept Andre away from the ice (he has missed five games) seems to me he will have to do a lot in the coaches mind to get in a game, but that's just my sense. Also hope Andre can speak about what happened and what he expects of his relationship with the team going forward.

In other news, as part of its continued effort to evaluate what it has for next season, the team called up defenseman Matt Smaby from AHL Norfolk. Smaby, 23, is a 6-foot-5, 222-pounder who is that tough, steady defensive-minded guy the team can use. He was fairly steady in four games with the Lightning earlier in the season and with Norfolk had a goal and six assists and was a notable minus-1 on a team that was a doormat most of the season. He was Tampa Bay's second-round pick (41st overall) in 2003.

The case for Tortorella to stay

Total speculation here but I am just not convinced, as are so many readers, that John Tortorella is finished as the Lightning's coach. In fact, a dispassionate view seems to indicate he and the coaching staff will be back, at least to start next season.

Before everybody gets all nuts, hear me out.

Let's start with the scenario that either Palace Sports & Entertainment or Oren Koules owns the team at the start of next season. If anyone else gets involved, say, if Koules' bid falls through (and we know how tough it must be to get financing in the current worldwide credit crunch), then all bets are off.

So, consider that if budget-challenged Palace Sports still owns the team, there is little incentive for it to pay Tortorella $1.3-million not to coach next season's squad while paying another coach to take his place. Sure there are offsets in Tortorella's contract, meaning if he gets another job, Palace Sports would be on the hook for much less than the $1.3-million. But does the group that claims it has lost about $80-million on its Tampa operation want to take that chance, especially if it is going to do anything to try to improve the team over the summer? I could be wrong, but even though Tortorella and CEO Tom Wilson don't get along, I think not. More likely is that Palace Sports does not extend the contracts of Tortorella or his coaches, all of which have a year left, and let's them twist during the season as lame ducks until they are either forced to extend them or fire them.

General manager Jay Feaster, who has three years left on his contract, by the way, refused in Thursday's story to say anything about contracts except, "Any discussion of extensions or new contracts, until there is resolution of the pending sale, is premature.''

As for Koules, an NHL novice, Tortorella is the winningest U.S.-born coach, with 235 victories, and a Stanley Cup winner who has been with the the team since 2000 and knows it like the back of his hand. And would Koules and his partners (Len Barrie, mostly) have allowed Tortorella to win the fight to sign Dan Boyle if he was not going to be brought back if Koules gained control of the team?

As for Torts quitting? Would you leave $1.3-million in the table? Besides, I'm sure he wants to see Prague (kidding).

So get used to the idea of Tortorella coming back. Things may change, of course. Koules may not get it done. Tortorella might say something even Wilson can't abide. But given the current lay of the land, I'd say bet even money Tortorella and his staff returns to start the 2008-09 season.

[Douglas R. Clifford, Times]

 

Ramo won't go away

Goaltender Karri Ramo is such a nice guy, that when he said after Tuesday's morning skate that, basically, he is not going to allow Mike Smith to just take the No. 1 job, you knew it wasn't the kind of in-your-face challenge some might make, but just a statement of fact from a confident kid who has tons of talent and perhaps has been a little overlooked since the trade to bring in Smith.

"It's my job to challenge him every night and every game in practice,'' Ramo said. And when I get a chance to play, I have to show my skills.''

Ramo, who gets the start tonight against the Islanders, has played just three games since Feb. 12, but has done well. He is 1-1-1 but has stopped 77 of 82 shots for a .939 save percentage and a 1.63 goals-against average. He was outstanding in Friday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Devils. And it's not like Smith is tearing it up. He is 1-5-0 in six games with a 3.02 goals-against average and an .885 save percentage in six games since coming over from the Stars in the Brad Richards trade.

"Every game is important to me right now,'' Ramo said. "Every time I step onto the ice I have to show what I've learned from the past. It was a good game. I hadn't played for a couple of weeks there.

"It's good for me,'' Ramo said of the competition with Smith. "It's always fun to do things when something is on the line. Every day in this league you have to challenge yourself, and every day you're playing for something. Now we're going to have a bad situation here. We don't have any chance to get to the playoffs. The season is over but we have to start to rebuild here and battle every game. And everybody needs to learn from it, too.''

Pretty cool, huh?

I know he's just 21 and those are the things you have to say. But I believe he really means it. It's the same kind of fight we see in him during games. Like I said, no animosity. It's just the nature of the game. Good luck to him.

Other stuff from this morning: Coach John Tortorella talked about the funks of Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis (two goals in 24 combined games). "They care. They're two great players,'' Tortorella said. "But they're going through major funks at a time we defended very well. If we could have gotten a goal or two from that line, we win half the games we've lost here.'' ... Jussi Jokinen kind of shrugged and pushed out a long breath when asked about playing just 10 minutes against the Blue Jackets. "I'll just try to do whatever I can to help the team win,'' he said. ... Speaking of the Blue Jackets, did you know they shoot off a cannon in the arena when they score. A real cannon, as loud as a real cannon. You know it's coming. Scares the heck out of you every time. ...  The "marriage'' as Tortorella called it between center Jeff Halpern and right wing Michel Ouellet is going well. Halpern has three goals, three assists in seven games since coming over from the Stars. Ouellet has three gaols and two assists. But Ouellet was heating up even before Halpern showed up. He has five goals, three assists in his past eight games, and almost had another goal against the Blue Jackets. ... Saw center Chris Gratton, back from Vail, where he had hip surgery, limping around the locker room on crutches. ... Thought defenseman Dan Boyle was entertaining in today's story about how the players should not forget "just how it (stinks) to lose. ... "I just never want to be in this situation again,'' Boyle continued. "Hockey is a major part of our life. It seems to affect just going home at night, and doing things away from the rink is not fun. Hopefully, we go home this summer and come back hungry.''

Getting emotional over Andre Roy

A really interesting situation with Andre Roy, isn't it?

On one hand you have a guy whose emotions help make him a capable enforcer. He may not always win a fight but he is always willing. And good thing the Lightning has him to help keep things honest out there.

But then there is this: Andre Roy has been told repeatedly by the Lightning management and coach John Tortorella to keep his emotions better in check. Just that alone is enough, I would think, for the coach to be mad at his player just for insubordination. He apparently wouldn't even calm down in the locker room between periods after his second fight with Cote. But consider this, too. Andre Roy, in that instance, didn't appear to be jawing with the Flyers to stand up for one of his teammates. Andre Roy wanted to fight someone for himself. Not saying it's wrong. Just saying that is one of the things that was getting under Torts' skin.

Look, wanting to fight someone is fine. If the Flyers were laughing at Roy for the way he was beaten by Riley Cote, get your revenge. I don't recall seeing anyone on the Lightning bench laughing at Cote after Roy beat him up in their first fight.  But getting your revenge can be done without making a spectacle and endangering a league suspension by making a throat-slashing motion.

I love Andre Roy. He's accommodating, funny and accessible. But for goodness sake, if your boss tells you to handle your business responsibly, then you do it responsibly. Go knock Cote out. But do it the right way. Take care of it on the ice. That way you get to play the next day.

Team to Roy: Take some time off

The Lightning has given Andre Roy the week off with pay while the brain trust decides what to do with the volatile forward.

Roy was sent home from the road trip after two fights with Philadelphia's Riley Cote on Thursday. Later in the game, Roy stood on the bench and jawed with Cote. He pointed fingers, made throat-slitting gestures and yelled, "You're (expletive) dead."

Coach John Tortorella grabbed Roy by the shoulders, got in his face and shoved him into his seat.

Roy has already been suspended once this year for having words with Tortorella, who has been critical of Roy's inability to control his emotions.

Should we hear from Koules?

A reader brought up an interesting point in response to today's story about Hollywood producer Oren Koules, who is trying to buy the Lightning.

I said in the story I believed Koules needs to be heard about such topics as keeping the team in Tampa, signing Lecavalier, others in his ownership group, payroll and the basic question of how much he wants to win. The reader said Koules doesn't owe anyone an explanation. It is the current Lightning ownership and management that has to give answers.

My response was that if Koules is going to own the team, it is his voice that, at this point, is paramount. What this team is going to do going forward is much more important, I believe, that rehashing what has gone wrong. And we certainly have beaten those reasons to death; bad personnel decisions (especially at goal), horrible drafting, allowing free agents to depart without compensation instead of trading them at the deadline.

Still, I thought it worth a discussion. Like I said, I'm in favor of knowing more about the guy who is going to own the team than going over again what we already know has brought the team down. That's why I want to hear from Oren.

By the way, how about Vinny finally scoring after going 12 without a goal. How about Marty scoring? And how about that it happened after they were taken off each other's line? ... And we knew Mike Smith was eventually going to get burned with all his puck-handling, didn't we? ... How much do we like Jeff Halpern?

   

Snow-covered Columbus

Watching the weather this morning I was positive we would never be able to get to Columbus today for Sunday's game with the Blue Jackets. Twenty inches of snow, they were saying. Winds over 35 mph. White-out conditions. The noon bus from the team hotel in New Jersey was pushed back to 5 p.m. That the weather also was awful in Jersey (lots of rain) didn't give me much hope either. So I settled in, and turned on a Mets exhibition game against the Marlins (former Rays infielder Jorge Cantu had three doubles and five RBIs for Florida).

But then the message came that the bus was moved up to 4 p.m., and when we got to the airport, the team plane was ready to go. Seems the snow had tapered off and the wind was down to 15 mph and that made it possible to land in Columbus, so we were on our way.

It was awfully bumpy on the way up, smooth otherwise. Even the landing on a snowy runway wasn't bad. a bit inconvenient was that we had to wait on the plane while they plowed a place for the plane to park. So from the time we landed until we got on the buses to get to the team hotel, it was more than an hour later.

Columbus, I have to say, did a great job of clearing the streets. Especially the main highway into town was passable as long as speeds were reasonable. Things couldn't have gone better until we got to about one block from the team hotel.

The team provides two buses for its players and the media. The players go on the first bus, the media, which also includes the Sun Sports production staff, goes on the second. At one point, someone said, "I think their bus is stuck.'' Sure enough, the players bus, which had stopped for a red light could not go forward through some thicker snow.

The bus backed up, moved forward a bit and stopped. It happened again, and again. The bus spun its wheels so badly, black smoke started coming off the back left wheels. Our bus driver radioed to the other a helpful tip that the players' driver said he already ha tried. Finally the players' driver backed way up and stated he was going to get a good run at it. The media driver decided to go ahead of the players bus to the hotel. As we approached the spot in which the players' bus got stuck, the light turned red. "Don't stop,'' someone yelled. A car waiting to come across our path, saw we weren't slowing down and literally backed up to get out of our way. We made it and watched behind us as the players' bus made it as well.

The hotel was packed with stranded travelers who obviously heard the Lightning was coming to town. The players had to fight through autograph seekers while they tried to get to the elevators to get to their rooms.

 

Roy is sent home

It didn't take long for the fallout from Thursday night's game to be revealed as Lightning enforcer Andre Roy was sent home Friday as the team prepared for tonight's game against the Devils. Team spokesman Bill Wickett said Roy would not rejoin the team on the road trip which finishes up Sunday in Columbus.

Left wing Karl Stewart was called up from AHL Norfolk.

Roy apparently will not be suspended by the league for his antics on the bench in the third period of the 3-2 loss to the Flyers, when he jawed with Riley Cote on the Flyers bench, pointed fingers and made a throat-slashing motion.

Roy fought Cote twice Thursday. The first period bout went to Roy who took Cote down with a string of hard lefts. But the second-period bot went to Cote who decked Roy with a brutal left hand. The replay was shown multiple times on the Wachovia Center scoreboard which apparently angered Roy. There also was scuttlebutt Roy was being taunted by some Flyers. Still, Roy, who has been consistently ordered by coach John Tortorella to control his emotions, was not pleased and benched Roy after the second fight and quickly took further disciplinary action

If you saw Roy on the bench, you knew it was coming. In February, Roy was suspended by the team for three games afrter he had words with coach John Tortorella on the bench after Roy fought with and jawed with Florida's Branislav Mezei.

On Thursday, Tortorella got into Roy's face to calm him down while Roy was gesturing at the Flyers.

Tortorella would not say much about the situation.

"That's going to be taken care of internally,'' he said.

Asked if he was upset the stadium continually replayed the fight, which, by the way, apparently is a violation of NHL policy, Tortorella said, "That has nothing to do with it. Why are we even looking up at the scoreboard. It's a 2-2 game. That has nothing to do with a team that's 1-6-1 that's involved with maybe winning a game.''

The Lightning would not comment about the scoreboard situation, but you can make a good bet it will lodge complaints with the Flyers and the league. General manager Jay Feaster also has spoken to NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell, and while neither he nor the league has commented, given that Tamp Bay plays tonight at New Jersey and no announcement has come from the league, that is a good indication Roy will be suspened by the NHL.

What happens with the Lightning is another story. As Feaster said, "After last night's game, I felt it would be best for the team and for Andre if he went back to Tampa and we separated him from the team for the next few days. I will meet with Andre on Monday, and will determine any subsequent course of action at that time.''

Roy gets clobbered

Can't say I've seen many more punches land as cleanly as the one Philadelphia's Riley Cote landed on Andre Roy. Still, Roy apparently was upset that Cote decided to fight for a second time (Roy got the best of him in the first period) when he was at the end of a shift, though Cote insisted after the game he was at the end of his shift too.

Tell you what I thought at the time was that Roy was going to be mad because Cote took a shot at him while Roy was clearing his arm out of the sleeve of his jersey. Thought Roy was clear but was still distracted when Cote threw that left.

Either way it was a hell of a shot.

What will be more interesting is the fallout after Roy, who was benched after the second fight, jawed with Cote from the bench and made the throat slashing move with his hand. Roy was benched for three games in February after fighting and jawing from the bench with Florida's Bransislav Mezei.

I'm sure Torts, who always is on Roy to control his emotions, did not think much of the performance.

Why not Bryzgalov?

With the way goalie Mike Smith has played since his acquisition from the Stars in the Brad Richards deal, this is a moot point. But it seemed curious earlier in the season when the Ducks offered goalie Ilya Bryzgalov at a discount (something like a fifth- or sixth-round draft pick), that the Lightning didn't snatch him up. Instead Bryzgalov, who was not going to get a chance to be a No. 1 behind J.S. Giguere, was put on waivers. Even if the Lightning put in a claim, he was snatched up by the Coyotes who had, because of their position in the standings at the time, an earlier chance to pick him up.

Even Bryzgalov's agent, Don Meehan, said he was shocked the Lightning did not trade for his client.

"I know Brian did offer Ilya around the league,'' Meehan said of Ducks GM Brian Burke. "And Brian told me on one occasion he did talk with (Lightning GM) Jay Feaster. I don't know the specifics, but Brian told me that he had talked to Tampa and couldn't understand why he couldn't convince Tampa to take him, given what he'd done with the Ducks.''

Mickey Redmond, the Red Wings television analyst, said on the air earlier in the season the Lightning had a trade worked out for Bryzgalov that was shot down by ownership because of Bryzgalov's $1.362-million salary. But the scuttlebutt around the Lightning is the team never presented a trade to the ownership. If that is true, it has nothing to do with his skills. Bryzgalov is 23-16-4 this season with a 2.32 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage.

The Lightning, though, is very careful about locker room chemistry and if the team, for whatever reason, determined through its research that Bryzgalov was not a fit, it is not a stretch to believe it would have stayed away. That's just speculation, of course, but given the team's track record in that regard, that kind of thing certainly was part of the equation.

Not that player salaries haven't been part of the equation for Tampa Bay. And, as it happens, Smith gives the team some breathing room. Smith, 25, is signed next season for $950,000. Bryzgalov, 28, signed a three-year, $12.75-million extension with the Coyotes that kicks in next season at $4-million. And Smith seems as good as advertised and his ability to handle the puck is going to be a long-term asset.

I know, everybody is sour over losing Brad Richards. But Tampa Bay has a chance, with Richards' $7.8-million salary off the books, to remake its team. The pressure is on Feaster and coach John Tortorella to take advantage and do it the right way.

More stuff from this morning: Smith starts his fifth straight game tonight against the Flyers. ... Smith, who on Tuesday stopped Pittsburgh's Peter Sykora on a penalty shot, is 2-for-2 stopping such chances. He stopped Alex Ovechkin with the Stars. Smith also is 9-for-9 in shootouts. ... Tortorella said even when defenseman Filip Kuba returns from a knee injury, Alex Picard will stay in the lineup as a top-four player and likely will be teamed with Kuba. That means either Doug Janik or Shane O'Brien, who has struggled lately, will be a healthy scratch. ... I guess this was a compliment. Torts said of Picard, "He's not afraid to make a mistake.'' ... The Lightning's 234 power-play chances are dead last in the league, 22 behind the next-to-last Bruins. ... Tampa Bay hass two power play chances in its past two games. ... GM Jay Feaster said recalling defensemen Matt Smaby and Vladimir Mihalik from AHL Norfolk is not an absolute. "We definitely want to look at them, but it's going to depend on how they play down the stretch,'' Feaster said. Still, it won't be a shock to see both of them with the Lightning.   

A word about officiating

Actually, I'm pretty sure you will have some words for the officials after the non-call toward the end of Tuesday's game as Jeff Halpern tried to go after a  puck near the net. For me, though, I'm conflicted. When I  first saw the play while the game was going on, it seemed clear Halpern was mugged by Maxime Talbot and, I believe, Jarko Ruutu, and there should have been some kind of penalty. But after seeing the replay I wasn't as sure. Perhaps that isn't quite right, either. Perhaps it just dawned on me that the Lightning shouldn't have been in a situation where it needed a call to give it a chance to at the end of  a game. Maybe it is more important to worry about what the Lightning did not do than what the referees did not do.

Look, there is no doubt NHL referees are not as consistent as they need to be. And I was shaking my head like the rest of you after Saturday's game in which I believed the referees, for whatever reason, gave Tampa Bay the short end of the stick. But whining doesn't do anybody any good. It may even make the refs not give the Lightning the benefit of the doubt in the long run.

Halpern helped me come to that conclusion. Instead of moaning about the non-call Tuesday, he spoke, instead, of how he allowed himself to get held up at the blue line while following the play. Had that not happened, he said, perhaps, he is clearly in front of Talbot and Ruutu and a penalty is called, or perhaps he actually gets to the puck.

Halpern's message is a good one I will try to keep in mind.      

Does (some) playing experience matter?

Wasn't sure how this will play among fans but I thought it was interesting would-be Lightning owner Oren Koules had some real hockey experience. Granted it was in the Western Hockey League in the early '80s, when the WHL was simply a senior-amateur league and not part of the Canadian junior system.

Still, as we read in Monday's paper, Koules played with former Devils star Ken Daneyko and former Islanders goaltender Kelly Hrudey, and made an impression on Les Jackson, who now is an assistant GM, and some of the Sutter brothers. In fact, Ron Sutter said of s--- disturbing Koules, "Too bad his team didn't have 19 others like him.'' Even got an e-mail from a local who said he played with Koules when they were "punks'' in Chicago. He said he even believed Chris Chelios was out there with them.

The point is, Koules knows the game and has contacts within the league among the players, agents and brass. Does that help him as an owner? Does it hurt because he could be subject to outside influences or might like be meddle and be coach and GM as well as an owner? Perhaps hockey smarts don't matter at all. After all, absentee owner Bill Davidson is a basketball guy, never said he knew much about hockey and the Lightning still won a Stanley Cup.

This isn't saying for a minute that the sale will either happen or it won't. Koules has until the end of May to get his financing together or Palace Sports & Entertainment gets to revisit the $200-million purchase agreement. But Koules does have a hockey jones, and then there is that story he told (when he was speaking to the media) about buying a place on Harbour Island and walking to games with the fans.

So, hockey experience for an owner: good, bad, doesn't matter. Thoughts?

Crosby: No hard feelings toward Ranger

As we found out after Pittsburgh's morning skate, Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby will return today after missing 21 games with a high ankle sprain sustained Jan. 18 in Pittsburgh against the Lightning. You recall the play: Crosby is tied up with Lightning defenseman Paul Ranger, lost his footing and slid into the end boards behind the Tampa Bay net.

Stories that went out on a national wire service that day put blame on Ranger and claimed he slashed Crosby, causing him to fall. But Crosby today said he never believed Ranger meant anything but to defend the play and believed the whole incident was just an accident.

"I just slid into the boards,'' Crosby said, shaking his head when asked about Ranger.

Crosby, who despite the layoff, comes into the game tied for 21st in the league with 63 points on 20 goal and 43 assists, was more interested in talking about playing a game.

"It's nice to get back with the guys,'' he said. "It's been a long time. I'm trying to work hard to get back and get the feel and things like that.''

Crosby said he began feeling better last week while skating in Pittsburgh while the Penguins were on a road trip. He said the biggest change was a lessening of the pain and a strengthening of the ankle. He said he expects he will tweak the ankle again during the season.

"But I started feeling better and feel pretty strong right now,'' Crosby said. "So I figure, it's time.''

More from the morning skate: The media scrum was big enough in the Penguins locker room that Evgeni Malkin, who sits next to Crosby had to stand aside and wait for Crosby's interview to be done before he could sit down. Sun Sports' Paul Kennedy, who was primarily in Malkin's way apologized to the big Russian, who mumbled, "No problem.'' ... Mike Smith will start in goal for the Lightning. After playing three straight games after being acquired from the Stars, Smith took the option and did not skate this morning. "I'm not one who has to get all loosened up in the morning,'' he said. "Just come in and do some stretching and get some work done and come tonight with a clear mind and some energy to go.'' ... Defenseman Filip Kuba (knee) will sit out his third straight game. ... Penguins defenseman Darryl Sydor, who played for the Lightning's 2004 Cup team said it is "sad'' to see how far Tampa Bay has fallen. "With the lock out and salary cap, it was a crash course in how to keep our team together. It's tough to look over there and know that just a few years ago we won the Stanley Cup.'' ... Coach John Tortorella said at some point this month, the team likely will call up defensemen Matt Smaby and Vladimir Mihalik from AHL Norfolk to get a look. ... Left wing Jussi Jokinen averaged 12:43 of ice time with the Stars. He's getting 20:22 with Tampa Bay. ... Tortorella said his focus still is on winning games. "I'm still looking at short term. I can't stand losing. The losing that's going on here (stinks). I'm not going to go into a total evaluation situation and continue losing hockey games. We're paid to win hockey games, and if that's not the way you're supposed to handle it, so be it.'' ... Mike Hasenfratz, who was part of the crew that refereed Saturday's lopsidedly called game with the Hurricanes, will call tonight's game as well. 

Crosby to play

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