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Tocchet looks for first win as Lightning coach

Nov 18, 2008 - 1:32 PM Florida (6-9-1) at Tampa Bay (5-7-5), 7:30 pm EST

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- Rich Tocchet failed to make a good first impression as the new coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Tocchet and the struggling Lightning look to snap a four-game losing streak when the club hosts the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.

Tampa Bay dismissed Barry Melrose 16 games into the season hoping Tocchet - an 18-year coaching veteran - could fix one of the league's floundering squads. Yet, with a loss in this game the Lightning will find themselves at square one by matching their season-opening, five-game skid (0-2-3).

They are coming off a 3-2 shootout loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday in Tocchet's debut. Martin St. Louis scored and captain Vincent Lecavalier ended a six-game goalless streak, but Tampa Bay was not able to rebound from a 4-3 shortcoming against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.

Prior to that contest, the Lightning were vanquished by the Panthers, who used two goals by Gregory Campbell and tallies from Nathan Horton and defenseman Bryan McCabe en route to recording a 4-0 win on Tuesday.

Tocchet has inserted rookie Steven Stamkos to the Lecavalier-St. Louis line.

The move could be a confidence builder for the top overall pick in June's draft, who has gone eight games without a point since his two-goal night in Buffalo on October 30.

Florida had a two-game win streak snapped and failed to win three in a row for the first time this season after the Red Wings skated to a 3-2 win on Friday.