A good win, but injury concerrns

Don't let the 35-24 shot disadvantage fool you, the Lightning were in control of the game but were done in by a spate of seven minor penalties. Good thing for the 7-for-7 penalty kill. Now if they can only get the power play going; it was 1-for-6 with two shots and blew two five-on-threes.

Nice for Rick Tocchet, too, to get his first NHL victory. Have to believe, right now, anyway, things are going in the right direction with the no-nonsense coach who apparently has gotten the players' attention.

A couple of concerns, though.

Tocchet was not very forthcoming on defenseman Lukas Krajicek, who left the game after the second period with what was called a lower-body injury. The coach said Krajicek, who has been very steady since his acquisition from the Canucks, will be evaluated today.

Less of a concern, seemingly, is left wing Ryan Malone, who played his first game after missing four with what was believed to be a leg injury and had three assists, his first assists of the season.Tocchet said is was his option to shut Malone down. He said Malone was a bit sore and because he said the team is in it with Malone "for the long term," and the score was 4-1, he didn't want to push it.

Marty St. Louis, after being hit by a puck in the first period, is okay with stitches around an eye.

Other things that came out of the game:

GM Brian Lawton said he expects to hire an assistant or associate coach within two weeks. He declined to give a name but said it will be a "senior guy." Here's a thought: former John Tortorella assistant Mike Sullivan, whom the team is still paying, anyway. ... Steven Downie was suspended three games for his from-behind hit Wednesday on Worcester's Kyle McLaren, who called the hit "dirty." Lawton said he had watched the oft-suspended Downie play last week and thought he played "in control," and called the incident "a minor setback." ... Mark Recchi tied Luc Robitaille for 19th all-time with 1,394 points.

Comments

[Stupidgood]

That win sure felt good up in 321. I would love to see Koci get in the next game, if only for a couple of minutes, and see if he can clear some traffic from in front of the net. Ranger did a good job, but teams know they can just plant a guy in front of Smith and get away with it. Great win, keep up the energy!

[hyjyljyj]

Good to see the big D come through big time last night for a change. Hope Krajicek won't be out long, he was a bowling ball out there clearing the crease, at once slamming both Arnott and Dumont to the ice and knocking both their helmets off. REALLY nice to see heads rolling like that, guys having to pay a price to stand near our net.
And how about Malik at the point, not only keeping the puck in and preventing an odd-man breakout but turning on some juice and taking that biscuit to the basket, nearly putting it in himself with some slick moves right up the gut, making the D look like traffic cones.
Nice job by Recchi to follow that play up thru the 5-hole and move into a tie for 19th all-time in pts.
Ranger had another all-star effort on D as well.
Malone playing hurt, picking up 3 assists--balls deluxe.
Radim Vibrator, once again,...no matter whom he's teamed with...more inept, inconsequential and insignificant than Jan Hlavac, except Hlavac didn't make $3 million for taking up space. Trade this dead weight already, if you can find a taker for that pork-barrel contract.
And what can you say about Mike Smith, your #1 star of the game--yet again? One goal, and that was on a deflection off the D. Just awesome, despite the half dozen or so eye-bulging, lump-in-the-throat moments out in the circles, body-checking and stickhandling the puck like a backchecking center, net wide open, that he felt compelled to inflict on us.
Also WTG Vinny, scoring two including the game-winner...can he keep the C for one more game??

[TJ]

I missed listening to the first period but the rest of the game sounded good to me. The team was a bit sluggish at times and took way too many "lazy" penalties, but they held together nicely instead of falling apart when the Preds started shooting on the power play. Nice game by all, congrats to Tocchet ("Coach T" as I saw him referred to in another story) for his first of hopefully many Bolts wins. The guys seem to be better off with more structure and are starting to play with more energy. Let's keep it up boys!

[Hockey Chic]

Way to go guys excellent win last night. It feels really good to celebrate a very nice game over all.

If all we have to complain about it the power play I am very excited. That puck to the face for MSL looked pretty damn scary from the 300 section. Glad to hear a few 23 stitches and he is good to go.

Congrats to the entire team for a well played and much needed w. I cannot wait to see the New Jersey or is that new jersey.. dah how long did it take for them to come up with that.

Lets keep the mo rolling guys. It sure looked like the preds did not know what to do with us. That is what we need keep em guessing guys. Work hard, crash the net, clear the crease (by the way excellent job from our D) and shoot and shoot often.

See you guys Sunday night..

Go Bolts!!