[moore4807]

Tired of living out of suitcases, the team is very lackluster at morning skate. The coaching staff is just as bad and after an hour of this nonsense Bonehead has seen enough, he calls the practice to a close, tells the team to get some rest and be back on the buses at 430pm.
There is a particularly nasty exchange between Coach McCabe and Coach Tyulin but they break apart before Bonehead can make it across the room to them. Neither offers any reason for the exchange just a difference of opinion they both say. Coach Ramsay suggests C Shawn Matthias (6.5/6.5)get a break, so C Drew Shore (6.0/7.0)can shake off some rust. LW Sean Bergenheim is reinstated to the lineup and LW Jesse Winchester goes back to the bench with a pat on the butt. Neither defensive coach has any recommendations for changes.

The opening period is very similar to the previous three games with a decent shot advantage and this time no score after one period. The second period sees Scott Gomez stuff home a PP rebound for his second goal of the season as the equalizer from an earlier TB score. Shots after two periods are a comfortable 26-17 lead.

During the intermission the earlier words between the coaches flare back up again and this time Bonehead is there to hear it... Coach Tyutin is convinced we need to move our best defensive pairing to the top line and give them major minutes to keep the shots down in the third period, Coach McCabe is believing the current set-up will work fine and the previous games are history. Bonehead sets them both apart and agrees they will modify the lineup but D Gudbranson and D Weaver will play the second pairing and with equal minutes to D Campbell and D Gilbert .

The grand defensive plan doesn't work out quite the way we hoped. Although the Bolts shots on goal are limited to just six in the third period, the Gudbranson/Weaver pairing are on the ice when Tampa scores the go ahead goal with 5:50 remaining. We don't get the equalizer and the Lightning are off the schneid with thier first win of the season.

The post game press conference is short and Bonehead admits he's not happy with the offense getting 36 shots and only scoring one goal, but notes the goal is a PP goal and obviously the coaching had everything to do with that. The room breaks up with laughter as intended. Bonehead closes out the conference with the reminder that they get some home cooking tomorrow against Pittsburgh and the chance to correct the problems.