New Lightning coach Barry Melrose is still seeking his first victory with the team. Tampa Bay has dropped four in a row—including two overtime defeats— to start the season.The Lightning only scored 8 goals and they allowed 12 goals in 4 games. However, they allowed on average a league worst 37.5 shots per night. The stellar goaltending of Olaf Kolzig and Mike Smith prevented them from getting shelled in every game.
You also have to wonder why the mullet-less Melrose doesn't give more ice-time to rookie sensation Steven Stamkos. Stamkos only played 9 minutes yesterday against a weak NYIslanders team. If Melrose doesn't give more ice time to #91, they should send him back to junior where he can get plenty of ice-time.
Tampa Bay's next 3 games are at home against Minnesota, Atlanta and San Jose. Melrose will be hard pressed to get at least 2 wins to save his job; otherwise, Koules and Barrie will not wait long to relieve Melrose of his duties a la Denis Savard.
2 comments:
I dunno Fred. I don't see Tampa panicking a la Chicago and making such a drastic change that soon. It seems that the pieces are starting to come together. I don't see Melrose getting an axe at this stage.
Meh, thoroughly unimpressed with both Tampa and Stamkos from the start of the season. Didn't see enough from Stamkos to show he deserved more ice time in the two season openers I watched, a couple of good shots that was about it. Didn't get himself in the action enough. As for Melrose, apart from it being a poor hire to start out(what with being out the game for years), I was a bit of a Tortorella fan to begin with, would have loved to have seen him in Toronto.
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