10-17 Bolts @ Pens

[Sotnos]

Just to kick things off, this from the team's Twitter this afternoon:

TBLightning - Downie moving back up to Lecavalier/Tanguay line tomorrow. Niittymaki to play in goal against the Pens.

[pete]

The good news is I think the spanking they took against Ottawa should get them to play with some urgency from the opening faceoff in this one. They know if the crap the bed like that again against Pittsburgh they'll really get embarassed.

[jaydeedub]

DC did a write up about it...

"Sometimes you learn from new experiences," the Lightning goaltender said after being assigned to the bench for tonight's game with the Penguins at Mellon Arena.

"Hopefully, I take it as a learning experience and not as a knock, by any means."

Antero Niittymaki getting the call wasn't the only change after Thursday's dreadful 7-1 loss to the Senators.

Steve Downie, a feisty presence the past few games, went from the fourth line to right wing on Vinny Lecavalier's line. Stephane Veilleux went from Lecavalier's line to the fourth....

....Smith said the hit left no lingering damage.

"I'm fine," he said.

But tormented.

"Those games sting. They leave a mark," he said of the loss to Ottawa. "I don't think I've played bad the last three games, but I know the results aren't there, the end results, the thing that means the most. The wins are not there, and that's the most frustrating part about it."

Said Tocchet: "I don't want to get into a situation, if a goalie plays bad, you don't play him the next night. I don't think that's fair to any goalie. I just felt, 'Give Smitty some practice time.' You have to remember, he hasn't played much in six months, and we haven't had a ton of practice time. He'll be fine."

[pete]

Smitty's dilusional if he thinks he didn't play poorly against Ottawa. This is where Torts would stand up and tell someone to look in the mirror and quit lying to themself.

I think the scary thing, to me, through six games is that I haven't heard Tocc explicitly say that he's unhappy with how soft the team has played. I'm fed up with it. These guys don't rattle the boards, and the skill players on teams like Ottawa and Atlanta absolutely adore it when they don't have to work and when you don't bury guys in the low slot the second they get near a puck. It would be OK if this was still Torts' team, but its not. This team is supposed to have a different identity.

They subtracted Artyukhin and Smaby (not that I want Artyukhin back) and it's like they castrated the team in terms of what they were doing well the second half of last year. Konopka and Downie are pesky, but they don't have the beef to really set the tone with body checks. I like them fine, but we need more jam.

I would like Lawton to send Wright back to junior, platoon Miller, and go find me two bigger wingers (Smoke and Jones are two options down in Norfolk, for instance) who are willing and able to clobber some guys. Then when Smaby's healthy again, get him back in the lineup.

I really think that physical edge is the missing ingredient the team needs, and I think if other guys start hitting, maybe you can get Lecavalier, Meszaros, and Ranger to start hitting again too.

Am I wrong? Through six games, is there anything about the way these guys have played that screams that this is Rick Tocchet's team, other than Konopka running around challenging everyone and their brother to throw down?

[the_narrow_way]

Originally Posted by pete

the skill players on teams like Ottawa and Atlanta absolutely adore it when they don't have to work and when you don't bury guys in the low slot the second they get near a puck.

It seems like every time they do try to clear someone from out front, they get assessed a penalty. I'd be afraid to do it too.

[Puckhead]

Originally Posted by pete

Smitty's dilusional if he thinks he didn't play poorly against Ottawa. This is where Torts would stand up and tell someone to look in the mirror and quit lying to themself.

I think the scary thing, to me, through six games is that I haven't heard Tocc explicitly say that he's unhappy with how soft the team has played. I'm fed up with it. These guys don't rattle the boards, and the skill players on teams like Ottawa and Atlanta absolutely adore it when they don't have to work and when you don't bury guys in the low slot the second they get near a puck. It would be OK if this was still Torts' team, but its not. This team is supposed to have a different identity.

They subtracted Artyukhin and Smaby (not that I want Artyukhin back) and it's like they castrated the team in terms of what they were doing well the second half of last year. Konopka and Downie are pesky, but they don't have the beef to really set the tone with body checks. I like them fine, but we need more jam.

I would like Lawton to send Wright back to junior, platoon Miller, and go find me two bigger wingers (Smoke and Jones are two options down in Norfolk, for instance) who are willing and able to clobber some guys. Then when Smaby's healthy again, get him back in the lineup.

I really think that physical edge is the missing ingredient the team needs, and I think if other guys start hitting, maybe you can get Lecavalier, Meszaros, and Ranger to start hitting again too.

Am I wrong? Through six games, is there anything about the way these guys have played that screams that this is Rick Tocchet's team, other than Konopka running around challenging everyone and their brother to throw down?

Couldn't agree more. In addition to the advantage taken when the opposing team knows they are going to get hit as they go for a puck, the really big hits energize the bench--they give the bench an incredible amount of energy and get them ready for their next shift.

And, I'll say it again for the enth time, VL plays WAY better when he's either been rocked, or when he's dished one out. There is no subsitute for body contact in getting the mind right and focusing energy against an opponent.

[CTLightning26]

I think we'd all like them to hit more and I, too, would like Smaby in the lineup....Maybe I'm jumping the gun a bit on this, but I have seen NOTHING from Foster.
IMO, tightening up the defense is more important. They have just been way too loose in three of the games...Better spacing, better backchecking, better puck support allows you to be more physical because you are in better position --of course..
They also have to win more battles on the boards...IMO, Halpern-Miller line is winning more than Vinny4's line...Maybe Downie helps that.

[pete]

Foster's on a clock, as far as I'm concerned. He has two weeks, and if he doesn't get it going, he's a Norfolk Admiral.

[Wrong Net Paulie]

Originally Posted by pete

Smitty's dilusional if he thinks he didn't play poorly against Ottawa. This is where Torts would stand up and tell someone to look in the mirror and quit lying to themself.

I think the scary thing, to me, through six games is that I haven't heard Tocc explicitly say that he's unhappy with how soft the team has played. I'm fed up with it. These guys don't rattle the boards, and the skill players on teams like Ottawa and Atlanta absolutely adore it when they don't have to work and when you don't bury guys in the low slot the second they get near a puck. It would be OK if this was still Torts' team, but its not. This team is supposed to have a different identity.

They subtracted Artyukhin and Smaby (not that I want Artyukhin back) and it's like they castrated the team in terms of what they were doing well the second half of last year. Konopka and Downie are pesky, but they don't have the beef to really set the tone with body checks. I like them fine, but we need more jam.

I would like Lawton to send Wright back to junior, platoon Miller, and go find me two bigger wingers (Smoke and Jones are two options down in Norfolk, for instance) who are willing and able to clobber some guys. Then when Smaby's healthy again, get him back in the lineup.

I really think that physical edge is the missing ingredient the team needs, and I think if other guys start hitting, maybe you can get Lecavalier, Meszaros, and Ranger to start hitting again too.

Am I wrong? Through six games, is there anything about the way these guys have played that screams that this is Rick Tocchet's team, other than Konopka running around challenging everyone and their brother to throw down?

Yes...

Originally Posted by Puckhead

Couldn't agree more. In addition to the advantage taken when the opposing team knows they are going to get hit as they go for a puck, the really big hits energize the bench--they give the bench an incredible amount of energy and get them ready for their next shift.

And, I'll say it again for the enth time, VL plays WAY better when he's either been rocked, or when he's dished one out. There is no subsitute for body contact in getting the mind right and focusing energy against an opponent.

Yeeeesssssssss...

Originally Posted by pete

Foster's on a clock, as far as I'm concerned. He has two weeks, and if he doesn't get it going, he's a Norfolk Admiral.

YEEEESSSSSSSS!

I'll say it again - when Vinny becomes physically imposing, he has his best play on the table. You stand 6'4 and 220 with great hands, vision and stickhandling. You've never really been a perimeter player in your life, and now you're going to act like one? No. Go and hit someone. Show me you're willing to change the tempo of a game without scoring. DO. SOMETHING.

[CupChamps2004]

Bad feeling this game will be U-G-L-Y.