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HEAD COACH
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Jacques Demers
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ROSTER
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C - Darcy Tucker, Chris Gratton, Mike Sillinger, Vincent
Lecavalier. RW - Alexandre Daigle, Michael Nylander, Jason
Bonsignore. LW - Stephane Richer, Rob Zamuner, Robert
Petrovicky, Colin Forbes. D - Sergei Gusev, Cory Cross, Petr
Svoboda, David Wilkie, Jassen Cullimore, Pavel Kubina, Kjell
Samuelsson, Drew Bannister. G - Daren Puppa, Kevin Hodson, Corey
Schwab.
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INJURIES
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Daren Puppa, g (groin injury, out for season); Drew
Bannister, d (broken foot, day-to-day).
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TRANSACTIONS
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Assigned Andrei Skopintsev, d, Xavier Deslile, c,
Mike McBain, d, and Karel Betik, d, to Cleveland (IHL); traded
Wendel Clark and a sixth round choice in the 1999 draft to the
Detroit Red Wings for Kevin Hodson, g, and a second round choice
in the 1999 draft; traded Brent Peterson, lw, to the Pittsburgh
Penguins for future considerations; traded Benoit Hogue, lw, to
the Dallas Stars for Sergei Gusev, d, and a conditional pick in
the 2001 draft; traded Sandy McCarthy, rw, and Mikael Anderson,
lw, to the Philadelphia Flyers for Colin Forbes, lw, and a
conditional draft pick; traded Bill Ranford, g, to the Detroit
Red Wings for a conditional draft pick.
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GAME RESULTS
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03/11 Buffalo W 5-2
03/13 Florida L 1-0
03/17 Pittsburgh L 2-0
03/19 Detroit L 6-3
03/24 Rangers W 6-3
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STANDINGS
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Southeast Division GP W L T PTS GF GA
Carolina 71 30 27 14 74 183 178
Florida 69 26 26 17 69 178 183
Washington 70 29 35 6 64 179 184
Tampa Bay 69 17 47 5 39 151 249
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TEAM NEWS
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by Seth Lerman, Tampa Bay Correspondent
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Jacques Demers, general manager and coach, achieved his two
objectives as the Lightning headed into the trading deadline. He
made his team younger and lowered payroll.
Entering the trading deadline with the worst record in the
National Hockey League, Demers made five trades, three of which
brought in some good young talent.
Demers shipped leading scorer, Wendel Clark and a sixth-round
draft choice to the Detroit Red Wings for goaltender Kevin Hodson
and a second-round draft choice. In a separate deal with
Detroit, he traded Bill Ranford for a conditional draft pick. The
32-year old former Conn Smythe winner had been a huge
disappointment since his arrival from Washington this past
summer. In other deals, left wing Benoit Hogue was traded to the
Dallas Stars for defenseman Sergei Gusev, and Mikael Anderson and
Sandy McCarthy were traded to Philadelphia for Colin Forbes and a
draft pick. In one minor deal, Brent Peterson was traded to
Pittsburgh for future considerations.
The trade of Clark was rumored for the past several weeks,
although the Buffalo Sabres and Dallas Stars appeared to have the
most interest. Earlier in the week, Demers hinted that he might
keep Clark, who has 28 goals, for his leadership. The offer of
Hodson, a young goalie with a lot of potential was too much for
Demers to pass on.
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Sergei Gusev
by Meredith Martini
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The acquisition of Hodson, Gusev, and Forbes supplies the club
with plenty of young talent, something which Demers considers
essential if the club will move forward.
Hodson will join Corey Schwab in the Lighting goal. Both have a
chance to prove that they can be the number one goaltender for
the Bolts. The Lightning have played well in front of Schwab,
who is getting his first legitimate shot at being a number one
netminder.
"This is the kind of opportunity you work for," said Schwab to
the Tampa Tribune. "Now what I have to do is help us win some
games and get the team playing well in front of me."
Schwab has defeated Montreal, Colorado, Philadelphia, Phoenix,
and the New York Rangers this season. "There isn't one coach or
player here who doesn't wish that Corey Schwab can be the answer
for us in goal," said Demers. "He's so well-liked because he is
a total team guy."
Schwab, 28, is a native of North Battlefield, Saskatchewan. He
was originally drafted by the New Jersey Devils with the 200th
pick in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft. He spent five years in the
Devils system, while appearing in 10 NHL games. He was acquired
during the summer of 1996 for Jeff Reese and two draft picks.
In Gusev, the Lightning have acquired a player who, in the words
of Demers, can step in and play a regular shift immediately.
"Looking down the road, we see him in our top four," said Demers
to the Tampa Tribune. In 23 games this season, the native of
Russia registered five points.
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