Jeff Halpern News

There's a rumour out there that the Oilers are scouting the Tampa Bay Lightning, that came to me by way of reading a post over at The Copper & Blue .

D Victor Hedman is out with a concussion, D Paul Ranger is away dealing with a personal matter, and still Matt Smaby can't get in a game.

Steven Stamkos, left, colides with Alex Kovalev during heated game action Thursday.

Jeff Carter and Mike Richards led Philadelphia to a 6-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning Monday, each posting two goals and an assist.

The Toronto Maple Leafs could see their biggest offseason addition on the ice for the first time this season tonight when they welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning for a battle at Air Canada Centre.

Lightning coach Rick Tocchet wasn't aware his players called a closed-door meeting after Monday's nose-holding 6-2 loss to the Flyers.

An Idaho junior hockey team was banished temporarily from a city ice rink after players engaged in a game of "strip hockey" -- shedding a piece of equipment every time a practice shot missed its mark.

ALUMNI CUP: George Parros acknowledges the cheers in August 2007 as he displayed the Stanley Cup at Princeton University's Baker Rink.

The Lightning's shootout woes have been well documented, but a struggling power play has also contributed to their mediocre start.

LW James Wright , whom the Lightning must keep or send back to juniors, has a powerful ally in captain Vinny Lecavalier .

Dan Boyle has a rare moment with his former Lightning coach. [Getty Images] The naked shootout The rules were simple.

If Teresa Miller had had more time this week, she would have sewn up a storm. The jersey would have had the family name across the back, half in Lightning lettering, half in the Sabres' style.

Through seven games the Lightning has yet to score first. "It's always nice to get the first goal," coach Rick Tocchet said.

For a guy who's living at the Embassy Suites because he might be back in juniors next week, 19-year-old James Wright has attained a rather lofty status with the Lightning.

Since dropping a pair of games on a recent two-game road trip, the last of which resulted in a tongue-lashing from management, the Lightning have endured a few days of intense practice and workouts.

Officially, the changes made to the Lightning 's forward lines are meant to revive a moribund offense.

Tampa Bay Lightning's Mattias Ohlund , of Sweden, collides with Pittsburgh Penguins Chris Kunitz , right rear, in front of Lightning goalie Antero Nittymaki, of Finland, in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh Saturday, Oct.

THE GAME: Almost as good as Milan Michalek's hat trick was the third-period beating Matt Carkner gave Steve Downie.

Steven Stamkos, celebrating his second goal against the Devils last week, has combined with linemates Marty St.

His story will always be told the same way. It has to be. You just don't rise up from out of nowhere to become a Hart Trophy winner on a Stanley Cup champion team.