head coach: Terry Crisp

roster: C - Jeff Toms, Paul Ysebaert, Daymond Langkow, Brian Bradley. RW - Mikael Renberg, Mick Vukota, Dino Ciccarelli, Alexander Selivanov, Mikael Anderson. LW - Rob Zamuner, Troy Mallette, Jason Wiemer, Patrick Poulin, Vladimir Vujtek. D - Cory Cross. Jeff Norton, Jamie Huscroft, Karl Dykhuis, David Shaw, Yves Racine, Roman Hamrlik, Igor Ulanov. G - Daren Puppa, Corey Schwab.

injuries: None.

transactions: None.

standings:

Eastern Conference - Atlantic Division   
Team         GP   W   L   T   PTS   GF   GA   HOME     ROAD     
Washington    8   7   1   0    14   30   15   3-0-0    4-1-0    
Philadelphia  9   5   3   1    11   25   22   3-1-0    2-2-1    
New Jersey    7   4   3   0     8   20   16   3-0-0    1-3-0    
NY Islanders  7   3   2   2     8   21   17   1-1-0    2-1-2    
NY Rangers    9   2   3   4     8   22   24   1-1-2    1-2-2    
Florida       7   2   4   1     5   14   22   1-1-1    1-3-0    
Tampa Bay     8   2   5   1     5   14   22   1-2-1    1-3-0    

game results:

10/05 Buffalo         T 1-1
10/09 at Chicago      W 4-1
10/10 at Detoit       L 3-0
10/14 at Florida      L 2-1    
10/17 Pittsburgh      L 4-1
10/18 at New Jersey   L 5-0

team news:

by Seth Lerman, Tampa Bay Correspondent

Darren Puppa says he is fully recovered since undergoing a season ending back injury last November. That's good news for the Tampa Bay Lightning. The bad news is they cannot put the puck in the net.

Within a four-game stretch, the Lightning managed to light the red light only two times. In the four games, the Lightning's forwards have been held scoreless. The lack of production indicates that if Puppa is not up to task, the team is in trouble.

"I wish I had the answers," said Mikael Renberg to the Tampa Tribune. "It's probably a confidence thing, because once you get one goal, they'll probably start to come more and more. I mean if we could just get one to bounce in off a skate or a stick, or something."

"I don't think in the six years of our existence I've ever seen one of our team's this discombobulated," said Lightning coach Terry Crisp. "We have no sense of discipline, no sense of system. They're not playing together at all."

Enter Puppa: The twelve-year veteran has appeared in six of the Lightning's seven games, and has posted a 2.15 goals-against average, allowing only 13 goals on 171 shots. He has both the Lightning victories.

"I forget how it felt to be normal," Puppa told Tim Buckley of The Hockey News. "If you're not feeling well physically, you're not positive mentally. I'm nine months post-op now. I'm not worried about it."

"He looks like the Puppa of old," added coach Terry Crisp. "He's playing like he played a couple of years ago, when he was at the top of his game."

It is no secret that if Puppa, or his backup Corey Schwab, falter at any point, the team is in trouble of missing the playoffs for the second straight season. Some observers will note that, even with solid goaltending, the team is too weak in several areas, most notably the offense, for it to matter anyway.

Through the first seven games, the Lightning have been outscored 22-14. No player has more than two goals; Mikael Renberg has not scored since opening night when he lit the lamp twice against the just-as-bad Carolina Hurricanes. Alexander Selivanov has scored just one goal and found himself in the press box in the 5-0 loss against New Jersey. Brian Bradley has a goal and two assists in the seven games.

One bright spot for the Lightning has been the play of young defenseman Cory Cross. The lanky blueliner has a plus five rating, not bad for a club which is minus-8 in that category.

For the Lightning, the next two weeks should prove critical. They continue their road trip with games in Philadelphia, Boston, and New York (Rangers), three teams who play a solid defensive game.

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