By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Friday, April 29, 2011
WASHINGTON — In a bit of a surprise, Lightning coach Guy Boucher is not a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, given to the NHL's top coach.
Pittsburgh's Dan Bylsma, Nashville's Barry Trotz and Vancouver's Alain Vigneault were named in a vote by the NHL Broadcasters Association. The winner will be announced June 22.
Boucher, who led Tampa Bay to its first playoff berth in four years, said he was not disappointed.
"I'm so happy Steve is nominated," Boucher said of Steve Yzerman's nomination for GM of the year. "I'm happy we have players who are nominated. That's most important to me."
"For us, we know what he's meant to this team and how he's brought the winning way," said W Marty St. Louis, a finalist for league MVP. "I don't think he needs a trophy to feel respected by his players. It would have been nice, but that's not going to change how we appreciate the hard work he puts in and what he does for the team."
Boucher, 39, in his first NHL season, guided the Lightning to 103 points, second in team history and 23 more than 2009-10.
Bylsma was rewarded for leading the Penguins to a 106-point season without, for the most part, stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Trotz was nominated for his success with a small-market playoff team, and Vigneault led the Canucks to a league-best 117 points.
"I can't comment on the other coaches," Lightning D Randy Jones said. "But I think any coach in the league would take the job that (Boucher) has done to turn this team around. He's been great on and off the ice with the guys, teaching and being positive. He's definitely turned this organization around."
FLIP THE SWITCH: The Lightning had one day off after its seven-game series with the Penguins. The Capitals, who clinched their first-round series with the Rangers on April 23, had five days off.
"You have to realize the Pittsburgh series is over," St. Louis said. "We can't wait now. We can't give (Washington) freebies because we're happy about the Pittsburgh series. We're proud, but we know there's more that we have to do to attain our goal, and it starts (Friday). We can't wait to start Sunday or when we're at home. It starts now. Hopefully the guys understand that."
SEEING STAMKOS: The numbers are not overwhelming — two goals, four points in seven games against Pittsburgh — but Boucher said C Steven Stamkos is better understanding the intensity of the playoffs.
"A deer in the headlights those first few games," Boucher said. "But I was really impressed by him learning fast. Last games he was paying the price, going to the net, back-checking, doing all the little things that we want to see in a winner, not a star."
ODDS AND ENDS: F Dana Tyrell did not skate while nursing a left foot injury sustained when he was hit by a puck during a practice in Pittsburgh. … The Lightning called up forwards Mike Angelidis and Marc-Antoine Pouliot and D Mathieu Roy from AHL Norfolk, which lost its first-round playoff series to Penguins affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. … Forwards Blair Jones and Mattias Ritola, defensemen Randy Jones and Matt Smaby, and G Dustin Tokarski also were scratched.