By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, May 29, 2011
The disappointment was obvious Friday, when the Lightning was eliminated from the Eastern Conference final in seven games by the Bruins. But after missing the playoffs the previous three years, the season, which included a 20 percent increase in attendance, was a success and set the groundwork for the future; quite a debut for new owner Jeff Vinik, new CEO Tod Leiweke and new general manager Steve Yzerman. "There is hope on all levels of this organization," said Guy Boucher, a first-year coach. "From the inside, I see what's going on. We always want more. It was a motto the whole year long."
MVP
Marty St. Louis again proved he is the Lightning's motor. From Feb. 8, when Steven Stamkos began his regular season-ending swoon of five goals in 28 games, St. Louis had 11 goals and 35 points to help pick up the slack. St. Louis finished second in the league with 99 points, a personal-best 68 assists and 41 power-play points. He led with 37 power-play assists and tied Stamkos with a league-best 52 home points. And his 64 blocked shots made him the league's only forward with at least 90 points and 60 blocks. His average 20:58 of ice time was fourth among wings, and his 472 consecutive games played is the league's fourth-longest active streak. Not bad for a 35-year-old who currently is tied for the playoff lead with 10 goals and second with 20 points. Said Lightning coach Guy Boucher: "He is a machine."
The Stamkos file
Despite scoring five goals over his final 28 regular-season games, Steven Stamkos, 21, finished fifth in the league with 91 points, second with 45 goals, second with 17 power-play goals and fourth with 36 power-play points. The center also tied Marty St. Louis atop the league with 52 home points.
G A PTS
First 54 games 40 33 73
Last 28 games 5 13 18
Totals 45 46 91
Game to remember
Lightning 8, Flyers 7: The Nov. 18 game in Philadelphia featured nine first-period goals (Flyers 5-4), the Lightning scoring the game's final three and overcoming three two-goal deficits. Fourteen Lightning players had points, including Steven Stamkos (a hat trick and five points) and Marty St. Louis (five assists).
Game to forget
Islanders 5, Lightning 2: Tampa Bay coach Guy Boucher said after the March 22 home game the team suffered from a "total lack of structure." New York, statistically the second-worst team in the East, scored four unanswered goals after the Lightning took an early lead, and Tampa Bay allowed two short-handed goals.
Notable
• Sean Bergenheim's nine playoff goals were one off R.J. Umberger's record for players with 15 or fewer goals in the regular season (set in 2008 with the Flyers).
• Tampa Bay became the first team in league history to snap opposing eight-game win streaks in consecutive games, beating the Coyotes 8-3 on Feb. 23 and the Devils 2-1 on Feb. 25.
• Dwayne Roloson tied the legendary Jacques Plante as the only goalies 40 or older to win eight straight playoff games.
• The Lightning became the 24th team to overcome a 3-1 series deficit when it beat the Penguins in the East quarterfinal.
• Defenseman Victor Hedman currently leads the playoffs with 13 takeaways.
Follow the money
Unrestricted free agents
Forwards — Sean Bergenheim, Simon Gagne, Adam Hall. Defensemen — Marc-Andre Bergeron, Eric Brewer, Randy Jones. Goalies — Dwayne Roloson, Mike Smith.
Restricted free agents (offers can be matched)
Forwards — Teddy Purcell, Steven Stamkos. Defensemen — Mike Lundin, Matt Smaby.
Signed for 2011-12
Forwards — Steve Downie, Vinny Lecavalier, Ryan Malone, Dominic Moore, Marty St. Louis, Nate Thompson, Dana Tyrell. Defensemen — Brett Clark, Victor Hedman, Pavel Kubina, Mattias Ohlund.
Salary committed: $38.37 million, including buyouts to Vinny Prospal and Todd Fedoruk. (The cap is expected to be between $60.5 million and $63.5 million.)
Numbers
69 Lightning goals for Pavel Kubina (four this season), a franchise record for defensemen
7 Victories in a 12-game February homestand; most by a team on a homestand of 10 or more games
46 Victories, tied a franchise record
25 Home victories, tied a franchise record
55 Home points, tied a franchise record
96 Steven Stamkos goals over the past two season, most in the league
18 Dominic Moore goals, a career best
17, 34, 51 Career-high goals, assists and points for Teddy Purcell
Rejuvenated
Mike Smith: The goaltender believed he might be out of the NHL for good after his demotion to AHL Norfolk during the regular season. But he handled his time with the Admirals like a professional. And upon his return, he was a key contributor, especially in the postseason, when he twice filled in for yanked teammate Dwayne Roloson and had a solid start against the Bruins. In 10 games beginning Dec. 15, Smith was 6-2-1 with a 1.53 goals-against average, one shutout and .947 save percentage.
Mattias Ohlund: The defenseman is the first to admit he has lost at least a step, and though he won't say it, injuries to knees and ankles have taken a toll. But Ohlund, 34, still a devastating hitter, found his game in the playoffs. He had a goal and three points in 18 games and was plus-5 while averaging 20:12 of ice time, about 90 seconds more than the regular season.
Best comebacks
Vinny Lecavalier: After two seasons of underachievement, the captain found his game. After modifying his playing style to be more consistent defensively and get to the net offensively, the center had 17 goals and 33 points in his final 32 games to end an injury-shortened season with 25 and 54.
Adam Hall: The right wing returned to Tampa Bay after being banished to the minors in 2009-10 and had seven goals and 18 points in 82 games as a third- and fourth-line grinder and reliable penalty killer. He was nominated for the league's Masterton Trophy, given for perseverance and dedication to the game, though he is not a finalist.
Nicest surprise
Nate Thompson was tagged with the nickname "Textbook" because he adapted so well to coach Guy Boucher's system.
His 10 goals, 15 assists, 25 points and 79 games were career highs. It was a season that would have been difficult to predict given the center's one goal and four points in 32 games after being picked up off waivers from the Islanders last season.
Net presence
How goalie Dwayne Roloson fared in the regular season and playoffs after his Jan. 1 acquisition from the Islanders:
REGULAR SEASON (34 games)
Wins Losses OT lossesShutoutsGAA Save %
18 12 4 4 2.56 .912
PLAYOFFS (17 games)
Wins Losses Shutouts GAA Save %
10 6 1 2.51 .924