head coach: Rick Paterson (interim)

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: Troy Mallette, rw (herniated disk, indefinite).

transactions: 10/26 Fire coach Terry Crisp. Name Rick Paterson interim coach.

standings:

Eastern Conference - Atlantic Division   
Team         GP   W   L   T   PTS   GF   GA
Philadelphia 16   8   5   3    19   48   40
New Jersey   12   8   4   0    16   41   23
Washington   14   7   5   2    16   44   36
NY Islanders 13   6   5   2    14   40   33
NY Rangers   15   3   6   6    12   36   41
Florida      13   3   7   3     9   28   42
Tampa Bay    13   2   9   2     6   23   43

game results:

10/21   Philadelphia L  7-1
10/23  Boston        T  2-2
10/24  Rangers       L  4-3
10/26  Los Angeles   L  3-1
10/29  Ottawa        L  5-2

team news:

by Seth Lerman, Tampa Bay Correspondent

If the National Hockey League had an award for the most disorganized franchise, the Tampa Bay Lightning would be in the running to take home the prize.

After beginning the season with a dismal 2-7-2 start, Terry Crisp was dismissed from his job by general manager Phil Esposito.

This is not a happy day in Tampa Bay Lightning history," general manager Phil Esposito said. "We've been together since the beginning. However, I was convinced breaking training camp our club was pretty good. It didn't seem like they were responding."

"It was a situation I guess where Phil had to act," said forward Rob Zamuner. "It's easier to fire one guy than 25 or 26."

Crisp was the only coach in the history of the Lightning franchise, In five-plus seasons with the Lightning, Crisp compiled a record of 142-204-45.

Early indications were that Ted Nolan, last year's coach of the year while at Buffalo, was the front-runner for the vacancy, but Nolan informed Esposito that he was not interested in the job.

Assistant coach Rick Paterson is coaching the team on an interim basis until Esposito names a replacement.

Speculation in Tampa is that former Flyer coach Terry Murray is the guy most coveted by Esposito, although the GM has not ruled out naming Paterson to the job. ESPN announcer Barry Melrose has also been mentioned as Crisp's successor.

Firing Crisp was not the only move that Esposito made to shake things up. He stripped Paul Ysebaert and Brian Bradley from their roles as captain and assistant captain citing a lack of leadership from the two veteran players. They were replaced by three alternate captains: Dino Ciccarelli, Roman Hamrlik and Zamuner.

Esposito was hoping that all the changes would allow the Lightning to get off to a fresh start, but that has not been the case. The Lightning proceeded to lose their first two games under Paterson, a 3-1 decision to the Los Angeles Kings, and a 5-2 bashing by the Ottawa Senators.

The Lightning are at the bottom of the league in points (6), last in goals scored (23), and are one loss away from setting a franchise record - 10 games in a row without a victory.

If you want to place the blame, there are several places to start: Mikael Renberg has not scored a goal since opening night; four players are tied for the goal lead with three; only four power-play goals have been scored; and only six players have more than one goal.

If there is a light at the end of the tunnel it's that the season is still young enough for the team to turn it around.

Don't count on it though.

Off the ice, the Lightning remain for sale and the uncertainty surrounding the franchise has clearly had an affect on the team.

Chris Gratton, the franchise player that the Lightning were counting on to lead the team into a prosperous future, was allowed to sign with the Philadelphia Flyers as a free agent. The Lightning were unable to match the Flyers offer. That move alone clealy indicates that the franchise is headed for a shaky future until a new owner is found.

In the meantime, Lightning fans can just hope that it does not take too long.

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