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.''

Comments

[boltflasher]

I think Feaster feels he did not get John enough of a supporting cast (which is correct), that John is a Cup winning coach that brought in a system to a team that had no direction
(partly correct), and that with better supporting players John will again have them in playoffs and in Cup contention. There were a number of things that came together for the Bolts in that year they won the Cup, not just John's coaching. Several individuals had career years that year or were at the peak of their careers. I think the whole team that year was pushed to extend themselves by Andreychuk, not by Tortorella and Feaster gives Torts too much credit. At the time Torts was the right guy at the right place at the right time, but that has all changed now and a new direction is needed in addition to a better supporting cast...

[ajax]

Their is no captain of this ship right now. Torts can do, say, act whatever because they are in limbo above him. This whole mess won't be righted until the keys are swapped. Many think the deal will fall thru. God forbid. Guarentee Torts and Feaster will remain if that happens. Guarentee next year will be another of "front office stalemate" ANYBODY can see at this point, Torts has totally lost the ship. Nobody is playing, nobody is listening. He whipped the big boys until their back broke and now wants them to, be leaders, be defensively more responsible, be the goal scorers, have more in the tank!!!! I gotta believe VL4 and Marty are dreading every single game. Some of you will say they are players, they need to be professional etc etc. They are human beings first, and they have had every drop of blood squeezed out of them this year. First ownership, then being treated like dogs, and now losing every night. Tough to lace em up.

[Casper]

Shoot, I omitted one other painful aspect of lousy coaching.
#5. is a clarification of #2) By not modifying defensive play, he has marginalized every goalie to strap 'em on under a Bolts sweater.

He has the temerity of barking at the netminder for not stealing a game in which his toffee nosed Golden Boys (yes, plural) have taken yet another night off.

[Rudy]

This is my post from feb:
Players are basically good, its only how you get it out from them. They can’t make Richie play in two years, V4 is slowing down drastically, and newer play probably 100% since Cup, Marty same story. Rest of the team, who knows. Tort get that beginners luck, which is not forever. Stanley Cup – I thing he was just in right place in right time. It was bunch of young people and old captain and all of them got on same track somehow and create that magic. That is gone now, and will newer coming back in same way. Captain was kick out by the coach who start believe that he is the one who got a cup to Tampa. He start believe that so much, that he chase away lot of good players, because he believe, that he don’t need them, that they need him, and they will be sorry. But maybe he can realize now, that he has no control of anything now, and newer has in mater of wining that cup. That was situation, which happened just itself when lot of good people get together and create that spirit of team who want to get what they want. He has to go now and maybe old captain can put his fishing poll away for some time and try to gang wit Esposito to get that magic back.

[Casper]

Well he!!, Tortorella can follow Andre right the heck out of the Bay. No, in fact, precede him.
Crime in Italy this hurts; I used to be a die hard supporter of John Tortorella and a slow death did I die.

When I coached and read a player the 'riot act' they danged well got it in their heads. You could see them freeze up and seize up at the very onset of a temptation to do a repeat performance for which we had our 'fireside chat'.

Andre barking at the dog in the next junkyard after being told he would go to the pound for doing so, is indicative of a coach who has lost the team. Now the onus falls to upper management---and I use that term loosely---, our Club is a rudderless dinghy with no on-ice Captain and Coach Queegorella ready to go nuts over the strawberry ice cream again [sic]. (Duh, that's from "Mutiny on the Bounty" for the Enquiring Minds out there...ygtbsm)

Andre Roy wears it out there on his sleeve---who doesn't know that? Whom also is in the dark about hearing his desire to be more involved in the skills development aspect of the game? He goes off once, that's his job; he goes off twice---and this time against Coach's orders, and coupled with the reluctance, no, refusal to give Andre something else to think about, playing the danged game within the game--- and you have a serious coaching problem.

John Tortorella should be punted from the Bay despite the Lord Stanley Cup pedigree because:
1.) Failure to adjust the Club dynamic on how to play using limited resources due to unbalanced book$.;
2.---clarification of #1,) Failing to coach more defense and fundamental play, not having Brad and Vinny hanging around center ice... oh, you get the picture.;
3.) Taking his 'meritology' to a macabre level. Dogging his most talented guys with insanely un- balanced shifts and dead legs [Camp Torturella can reduce only so much fatigue with improved fitness. Six months later bodies start dropping, dumb@$$!!! The in-season breaks you give these dolts only gets their head out of the game---and they don't come back in time! They're tired, empty brained, and just overall poorly coached on offense and especially, most especially defense!]. The 4th liners are not doing enough ice time to justify the cost of tape, clean towels, soap, etc.;
4.) Talking out of both sides of his face---tempestuousness with players through the press and intolerance of similar mania from one of his players who's paid to do thus. Geez, how long has John been coaching Andre? His voice isn't chiming in Roy's head as a guiding light?

Well, I've got a late breaking bulletin for ya', nobody on this Club that was here before Feb 26 hears any chimes on smart play when they are on the dad burned ice. Coaching change needed and I mean pronto!

[Rudy]

SO now I see what a good coach is doing, he wana Jay to get some draft pick more easy so we have to finish first when you flip standing . What a strategy! Well is always something good in bad.

[Mike13]

Harvey's correct about the draft, although the percentages are a little off from what I found on the NHL website. But they're close enough.

Basically, LA has a 25% chance & the Bolts have an ~18% chance of winning the 1st overall pick.

Steven Stampkos would be ideal, but Alex Pietrangelo or Drew Doughty would be very solid D to add to our swiss cheese roster. If we drop to the 3rd pick, we might consider taking Kyle Beach instead of a defenseman.

Current ISS Top Ten
-----------------------------------
Steven Stamkos, C
Alex Pietrangelo, D
Drew Doughty, D
Nikita Filatov, LW
Kyle Beach, C
Luke Schenn, D
Colten Teubert, D
Cody Hodgson, C
Colin Wilson, C
Zach Bogosian, D

[Rudy]

Wishful thinking Joe! I hope you are right, but I think you not. This is to same BS we went thru already. Especially with a goalies. Coach has no idea what he is doing right now, and that will stay to same for future. He is a problem right now, and if you not fix that it stay with you. It’s going to be same no matter who is playing. Players do what coach telling them to do.

[Another Joe]

Torts has said it before. He likes Roy and think he is a better "hockey" player then he gets credit for. He was even giving him more ice time earlier in the year. However, he has to pick and choose when he gets into fights. Same with Obrien. Physical tough play doesnt always mean a fight. Roy was out of line the other night and deserves to be benched.

As far as the Devils game. The team isnt playing bad they just cant seem to get a break. We play great against the Penguins and thier goalie plays out of his mind. Play decent against the Devils cant get #2 behind Marty B.

I do think a Smith/Ramo tandem next year is starting to look pretty good. And Picard is a great addition. Get a top 3 player in the draft theres no reason the bolts cant be back in the hunt for the SE division next year!

Go Bolts!

[adam]

I love Roy too and I don't mind that he fought twice with Cote. However, he acted like a 12 yr old who just got his Nintendo taken away from him. Roy was fine being as mad as he was, but he should NEVER display it in the manner he did while on the bench.

[David]

Maybe in the next CBA they can work on making the draft lottery even more complex.

Is 11-14-13-1 unique to 1-11-13-14, is it permutations or just combinations?

[olin]

Leo...I'm not talking about Mike Smith's mask with Garth Brook's, I asking about your guy or did you forget?,Carey Price...he seems to have a guy riding a horse with a masked man on the side....don't need to speak swedish.???

[tundo]

I have full confidence that this team will finish with the lowest point total in the NHL. Ill take a 3-1 odds on getting Stamkos. If we don't, and end up with the 2nd overall pick, Alex Pietrangelo would be a nice prospect to build the defense around. Here is his scouting report.

Alex is a towering, smooth skating mobile defencemen, with great offensive skills. Pietrangelo plays with great maturity and smarts at both ends of the ice. His calmness and confidence while handling the puck, make him a tremendous offensive threat from the back end. He has slick hands, great vision, and the skating ability to rush the puck at will. He quarterbacks the power-play, makes hard crisp passes and has a hard shot from the point. Not a physically dominating defencemen, but uses his great foot speed, positioning and long reach to fend off the opposition very well. Reacts very well under pressure, reads the ice well, and makes quick, smart decisions. With great size and offensive upside, Alex Pietrangelo is definitely a high end prospect.

Sounds like someone we could really use here...

[harvey]

ooooops, I just realized my percentages add up to 103 not 100 but it's close enough. I think you get the picture.

[harvey]

turtle....that was good!!

[harvey]

The draft lottery is screwy as can be. All non playoff teams participate in the lottery however a team can move up a max of 4 spots and can not fall down more than one. Only the lowest 5 teams in points have the chance at the #1 pick. Here's how I found it explained.

Fourteen balls, numbered 1 to 14, were placed in a lottery machine. The machine expelled four balls, forming a series of numbers. The four-digit series resulting from the expulsion of the balls was matched against a probability chart that divided the possible combinations among the 14 participating clubs. The chart showed that the Blues had been assigned the numbers (11-14-13-1) that were expelled.

The Draft Drawing is a weighted system to give the teams that finished with the fewest points during the regular season the greatest chance of having their combination selected. The team who finishes the regular season with the fewest points are assigned the greatest number of combinations, representing a 25% likelihood that their combination would emerge. The second lowest point prodicing team has an 18.8% chance of the combinations, followed by the the 3rd lowest(14.2%) the 4th(10.7%) and the 5th at 8.1%. The remaining teams have the following chances: 8.1%, 6.2%, 4.7%, 3.6%, 2.7%, 2.1%, 1.5%, 1.1%, 0.8% and 0.5%.

Got it? Yeah, me too. Even the 17th highest team (the one with the most points that didn't make the playoffs) is entered into the lottery however a team can only move up 4 spots max so only the 5 teams with the lowest point totals are in the running for #1.

I tried to simplify this by taking the odds of the lowest 5 and making that 100%. Here's the readers digest version.....

The team with the lowest point totals in the league has a 35.55% chance of retaining the top pick. 2nd lowest has a 24.45% chance of moving up to the #1 spot. 3rd - 18.50%, 4th - 13.94%, and 5th - 10.56%. Teams with the lowest points do have better odds but the lowest points in no way guarantees the top pick. If the season ended today, Tampa would have the 2nd lowest points and would draft anywhere from 1st to 3rd depending on the results of the lottery.

If the Bolts happen to fall to the worst point total in the league there is still only a 35.55% chance of getting the #1 pick. You might not want to hold your breath for Stamkos. However it works out, picking one of the top 3 or 4 in this draft will likely bring in a good player. Then again.......there's Svitov. 3rd overall.

[Voice of the Turtle]

In a late-breaking story it was learned that Coach John Tortorella has been sent home due to a unanimous vote by the Lightning team. The vote was taken at a team meeting which took place while the Coach was employing his usual bad grammar and poor articulatuion during the post-game interview.

Tortorella will not be attending the Sunday game in Columbus. He was given instruction by Nigel the video coach to dye his goatee while at home so as to look better on camera in case the team allows him to appear at future games.

Jay Feaster could not be reached for comment although efforts were made to reach him at his favorite buffet restaurants in Tampa.

In another related story out of New Jersey, noted St. Petersburg Times reporter, Damian Cristodero, after sucker-punching Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune in the press box, received 2 minutes for roughing, 2 minutes for instigating, 5 minutes for fighting, and a 10 minute game misconduct. Erik was given a hanky to wipe away his tears and was sent back to Tampa by the Trib (currently looking for more physically intimidating hockey scribe).

[Mike13]

4 teams get in the lottery, the worst team gets the highest % chance. If we finish 29th out of 30, the worst we will pick is 3rd overall. There are some fine D-men in this draft.

[ajax]

Didn't get to watach the game tonight and only heard the 3rd period and overtime. Brodeur must of fell asleep. Ramo sounded like he stood on his head. Then they score on a 2-on-1 and the announcer says it was just like the first goal(2-on-1) nothing changes but the date. With all the crapola and mind games Torts plays I for one thinks if Tortorella stays VL4 will be moving no matter what. Hockey is 6 months, he can still live here and be involved in his charity work. He can start a charity in his new city. He is finishing up a 30 mil contract and will be signing probably at least 50 mil more. He will want to win and win now. Lots has to go right for him to stay. Put me with bear and leo(did I actually say that). Take the boat load of players and draft choices and move him on his way. My new motto(other than, Fire Jay, Fire Torts) WE NEED PLAYERS, as in plural.

[Bear]

May be wrong but I think the lottery has a max swing of 4 spots

[boltflasher]

If the Bolts have l7 one goal losses this season, and we have Stamkos, you figure he might have scored in at least half of those and we are in the playoffs...

[boltflasher]

How many teams get into the lottery for the #1?

[tundo]

Its too bad Jon Tavares will not be available, because then we couldn't really go wrong drafting either him or Stamkos. And the way it is looking, drafting 2nd overall is going to be the worst we can end up...

[tundo]

No doubt Stamkos is a prolific goal scorer, and would easily make second line from day one next season.

He would look great in a Bolts uniform next season. Then we would just have to focus on bringing in a good RWer to play with him and Ouellet/Jokinen. Keep Halpern, resign Gratton, and we have a really good core of centers on this team...

[boltflasher]

Hey, its OK....here's what we can look forward to:

Top-rated draft prospect Stamkos named OHL player of the month
6 hours ago

TORONTO — Sarnia Sting forward Steven Stamkos was named Ontario Hockey League player of the month Friday.

Stamkos, 18, led the OHL with 13 goals and nine assists in 13 games in February.

He had a goal and five assists in a game against Saginaw on Feb. 3 and four goals, one assist in a game against Owen Sound on Feb. 8.

The Unionville, Ont., native is the top-rated prospect for the 2008 NHL entry draft.

He has 52 goals and 42 assists in 56 games.

[Herb]

Flasher then do what I did....just give up on this team, this year, and wait to see what they do over the summer. So far all I see that they will do is lose Vinny4. It seems that Torts and his cronies will remain but I hope and pray that I am wrong. I just can't bear to watch an AHL team playing NHL caliber teams. The same result will happen. They were destined to lose this game because Ramo sucks on penalty (shootout) attempts.He has yet to stop one.

[boltflasher]

Its hard for us to keep wathching this, over and over. Think of the players being told the same thing over and over that continues to produce the same result....

[Rudy]

Get icecream leo

[tundo]

So instead of having a real enforcer tonight, Boyle had to fend for himself and take a 20 minute break...

Good game though, they should have gotten torched, but had another great effort in net. These two guys we have now will be a fine tandem to go with next year. Just need to get some help defensively.

Vinny should just take a game off, he was way off tonight. He could barely stay on his skates in the OT.

[leo]

Sorry, don't speak swede. It's Garth Brooks.
Too bad for Ramo.
Gotta love those 2 on 1s. You would think that in overtime...ah, nevermind. Same'ole tripe, different day.
Too bad for Ramo, though.
BBR

Leo- was just looking at the latest Swedish Pro Hockey mag(during commercial time) and they have a nice article about you boy...they say -En cool rookie i malet...couple a photo's as well, is that the Lone Ranger on the side of his mask???

[Herb]

I sure will Bear

[bear]

Herb let us know what the high foreheads at the Lightning said in their response to your email...if any.

With a $400 a seat bump I think that they will be in for a shock.

Hold off and get the 2 for 1 deals in the fall.

[Rudy]

Now Boile stop shooting ( in wrong direction) and start fighting.

[leo]

Hey, man, where's Roy?!
I wanna see a little spit-disturbin'!
C'mon, man! Get out there!
oh yeah...
Actually, I think he might still be here if it wasn't for the "throat slashing motion". Didn't see it meself but I know the League considers that a big no-no.
Think Feaster might've received a call last night by Mr Campbell,
"Your boy is suspended; we need to talk."
BBR

[Rudy]

It’s will be kind tuff cal to make a captain from that gang what we have here, and I don’t think anybody feel like to be one too. Unless Torts is gone, and it take a while to settle everything up. For V4 will be I think very uncomfortable in current situation.

[olin]

....General Tort's,,,, the army does not have a "Capeeeetain" to calm down the troop's in the trench's.

[boltflasher]

Actually saw shot on goal by #4!!!!

[Rudy]

Unless last time was kinde fun to read post about Boil scoring opposite directions

[boltflasher]

Uh oh, Tarnasky in a fight...better call up Wanvig again...

[Rudy]

you know where your email going to end up, rigt?

[Rudy]

That is right on the money dito

[Herb]

I just sent an e-mail to the Bolts telling them how disgusted I am as a Bolts fan. They sucked the hockey fan in me right out of my body (tried to think of a better way to put it but that's all I could come up with SORRY)

[boltflasher]

With all the problems this team has, the big important thing to do is suspend Roy and call up Stewart??????? Forget about trades and filling in holes with free agents...manage what you have first...Vinny is playing like he's worn out...which is due to the minutes that he's had. What's Torts solution to the current situation? He puts even more pressure on Vinny and Boyle by saying they will play against the other teams' top line for "defensive purposes"...Unbelievable..

[Rudy]

I personally don’t like wrestling, with all that show around, screaming and that entire BS. That is me. And somehow yesterday reminded me of that. I got nothing against Roy, but I don’t like how he showing up. I don’t think this belongs in hockey. And I thing he has nothing to show anyway. I like V4, he is a nice guy, not showing up, but when he gets piss, he just takes care of business right away, no question ask.
That is what I call fighting and that is what make people stand up and players get motivated. But yesterday, and all Roy’s escapades? I’ am sorry, but I don’t have to see that.

[Rudy]

Open the other botle

[Rudy]

Nothing you missing Herb.It's sad.

[Herb]

omit the "just in"

[Herb]

I turned off the game 10 minutes in just in. The Devils are playing an AHL team right now.

[Bolt Fan]

How many times have we asked this team to sho wheart and emotion? And as soon as someone does they are sent home. What is that all about!? I would much rather Torts go home early for not getting this team to win.