i want to address the coaching for the lightning,it stinks,i'm glad rick toccet was a good player but he sucks as a coach,at the beginning of this season,antero ninimakki got most of the starts and played outstanding,way better than he did in philly and finally the lightning had as good a goaltender as they did in '04 when they won the cup,
the team in front of him responded,they had their confidence back and were scoring goals,although some games were a little rocky but that can be expected of new players getting used to their linemates,they were playing great and at one point 9-4-7 and ninimakki was 6-1 with a save percentive in the top 5 goalies in the entire NHL,what kind of coach would change anything about that ? i think rick toccet only, he began starting mike smith most nights,who in most games couldnt stop a beachball ! but coach toccet kept on starting him,well the players in front of him lost their confidence in him and the whole system began to crumble to the tune of ,i think, 1 win and 1 tie in 13 games? they are now 12-14-9,nowhere near a playoff position,the fans in Tampa Bay are sick of losing and deserve a playoff run ! rick toccet seems to be the problem,i've never seem him get pissed at a bad call by the referees,get mad at his players for doing something stupid like john torterella would have,the players are frustrated and un disaplined and i remember barry melrose getting fired for a whole lot less but with the youth and skill level of the forwards and defensmen the lightning should be right behind the capitals in a playoff position,the season is salvageable but ONLY if the coaching is improved dramatically,maybe adam oates would be better and think the management in the lightning organization should roll the dice before its too late...