Before the 2006-07 season started, Lightning coach John Tortorella circled a 14-game stretch between Christmas Day and this past Sunday.
“That will be our crossroads of the season,” he said. “The make it or break it part of our schedule.”
Now that that period of time is over, Tortorella must be beaming with delight at the result.
The Lightning, left for dead in November and most of December, went 9-5-0 in that stretch, losing consecutive games just once (and not at all since dropping games to Atlanta and Philadelphia on Dec. 26 and 28).
“The biggest positive that I think the team should understand is that we’ve stayed with it,” he said. “I think that’s an important thing. When you are going through struggles, and we’ll go through some more in our last 32 games here, it’s a matter of staying with it, not getting into a panic mode and finding ways to win.”
Keep in mind that Tampa Bay was 14-17-2 after a 3-2 loss to Carolina on Dec. 16. The loss to the Hurricanes also capped off a season-worst, four-game losing streak.
At the All-Star break Tampa has a 26-22-1-1 mark.
Better than the .500 mark, true, but considering that the Lightning have won seven of their last eight and five consecutive road games, it is amazing how they have gone from the basement of the Southeast Division to having a firm grasp of No. 7 spot of the Eastern Conference playoff field.
Ironically enough, the Lightning, at least for the first half of the season, seem to play better on the road (11-7) than at the friendly confines of the St. Pete Times Forum (12-12).
What has been the reason for the turnaround?
Right winger Marty St. Louis and center Vinny Lecavalier for starters.
Both have gone about building their resumes for MVP the first half of the season. They are tied for the league lead in goals with 30, and are on a pace to set a franchise record for goals by two teammates (98).
“I don’t think they’ve gotten their proper respect,” Tortorella said. “We really haven’t been in the forefront, but they have played very well. I think they’re two of the best players in the league right now, not only in the Eastern Conference, but in the entire National Hockey League.”
Goaltending, one of the keys to the team that was suspect at the start of the season, has also been a key.
Johan Holmqvist (15-9, 2.84) and Marc Denis (11-13-2, 3.16) have replaced last year’s starters John Grahame and Sean Burke and have been impressive at times.
Holmqvist is second among goalies with three assists; Dallas’ Marty Turco has four.
