head coach: Jacques Demers

roster: C - Jason Bonsignore, Steve Kelly, Paul Ysebaert, Daymond Langkow, Brian Bradley, Darcy Tucker. RW - Mikael Renberg, Stephane Richer, Jody Hull, Alexander Selivanov, Mikael Andersson. LW - Rob Zamuner, Troy Mallette, Jason Wiemer, Vladimir Vujtek, Louie Debrusk, Brent Peterson. D - Cory Cross, Jamie Huscroft, Karl Dykhuis, Yves Racine, Bryan Marchment, David Wilkie, Mike McBain, Jassen Cullimore. G - Daren Puppa, Corey Schwab, Mark Fitzpatrick, Zac Bierk.

injuries: Troy Mallette, lw (herniated disk, out for season); Brian Bradley, c (concussion/wrist injury, indefinite; Daren Puppa, g (back spasms, indefinite); Cory Schwab, g (sprained ankle, indefinite); Mikael Andersson, lw (sore back, day-to-day).

transactions: Recall Brent Peterson, lw, from Milwaukee (IHL).

standings:

Eastern Conference - Atlantic Division   
Team         GP   W   L   T   PTS   GF   GA
New Jersey   56  34  16   6    74  158  110
Philadelphia 55  29  17   9    67  160  123
Washington   56  26  19  11    63  156  143
NY Rangers   57  17  24  16    50  140  154
NY Islanders 57  20  29   8    48  148  158
Florida      57  18  27  12    48  138  160
Tampa Bay    56  10  37   9    29  104  185

game results:

1/26 at Ottawa     L 2-1
1/28 Carolina      L 3-2
1/31 at Florida    L 2-0
2/02 Buffalo       L 7-3
2/04 at Carolina   T 3-3
2/05 Detroit       L 5-4
2/07 at Washington W 4-3

team news:

by Seth Lerman, Tampa Bay Correspondent

When the Tampa Bay Lightning acquired Stephane Richer from the Montreal Canadiens, they knew hey were acquiring a player who could score a lot of goals.

How many?

The Lightning are hoping that Richer can regain the touch which twice netted him more than 50 goals. But those 50-goal seasons are five years in the past, and now the Lightning are hoping for, and would be happy with, 30 from the veteran right winger.

Playing on a line with Jason Wiemer and Darcy Tucker, Richer has not exactly set the world on fire, although his play has been above average. In the Lightning's 4-3 victory over the Capitals, the team's first win in 16 games, Richer notched a goal and two assists, and was a major reason why the Lightning finally ended up in the win column.

It was not the goal scoring that was so impressive, the Lightning knew he could do that. It was the hard-nosed forechecking and backchecking that made the goals happen which stood out most.

Richer is now in his 13th season in the National Hockey League. For the most part, his career as been up and down. Despite the two 50-goal seasons and two Stanley Cup Championships, Richer has been an enigma for coaches and management.

Now in his last year of a contract, Richer is out to prove that Lightning management made the right decision in acquiring him from Montreal.

"I know one thing," Richer said. "This has not been the greatest year of my life. It has been tough. I live day-by-day and try to stay positive."

The addition of Richer, along with several other players both young and old, has changed the complexion of the club, not to mention the overall attitude. Through the last three games (1-1-1), the Lightning have displayed some intensity, something which was definitely missing through the first part of the season.

This team has a degree of confidence about it which it has not had all season long. They do not give up when trailing, they do not fall apart due to a bad goal, and they do not fight amongst themselves.

"I think we can build off the whole last three games," said Jason Wiemer. "I mean, we've just been playing a lot better the last couple of games."

"The defense, the offense, everybody just seems to be at the top of their game right now," added goaltender Mark Fitzpatrick.

Coach Jacques Demers, under some criticism from fans earlier in the week, now speaks in fond terms of some of his players - something which he has been unable to do since taking the position in mid-December.

"We've got some guys playing pretty well right now, and when some of the injured players like Mikael Andersson and Daren Puppa come back we may have to do some things here," said Demers.

Just as luck may have it, as soon as the Lightning start showing some signs of life, the NHL shuts down for three weeks so that more than 120 players can participate in the Nagano Olympic games.

"It'll still be nice to get away for awhile," commented Wiemer. "It'll give us a chance to re-energize and maybe we can forget about the last three months and start building off the last three games."

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