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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.) E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com Kevin Brown, Sports Editor kbrown@heraldnet.com   Published: Saturday, November 15, 2008 NHL notes: Lightning fire head coach Melrose Associated Press TAMPA, Fla. -- Barry Melrose's return to the NHL as coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning lasted 16 games. Now the job belongs to assistant Rick Tocchet, who was once suspended from the league for his involvement in a sports betting ring. Melrose was fired Friday less than five months after he left the television booth to coach a team that finished with the league's worst record last season. "It's a disappointing day," general manager Brian Lawton said, adding that he was concerned with the direction of the team, which was not responding to the former television analyst who skipped practice one day this week after admonishing the team for poor play. "Myself, certainly the players and the rest of our staff, we all have to take responsibility for this as well. It's a difficult job," Lawton said. "Ultimately, you have one person that's paying the price for a lack of deliverance on performance for a number of people, or a team in this case." Melrose asked Tocchet to run practice Tuesday after he met with players in Sunrise, Fla., where the Lightning lost to the Florida Panthers the following night. Lawton said there was no one reason for the dismissal. "He was not let go because of that," the general manager said, adding it was a culmination of things that had been building since the start of the season, and possibly before. "For me, it's not about the wins and losses every night. ... It's certainly part of the equation, but it's not all of it," Lawton said. "It has to do with philosophically where we're going, where we're at today, where we're going tomorrow and where we're going to be in three months or a year." Tocchet was promoted to interim head coach. He was sentenced to two years' probation in August 2007 after pleading guilty in an investigation into a sports betting ring. Tocchet said he never bet on NHL games. Tocchet rejoined Phoenix's coaching staff in February 2008 after a two-year absence that included a suspension by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in an e-mail to The Associated Press that the league is not concerned about Tocchet's promotion. "Rick is still bound by the terms of his reinstatement," Daly said. "If he's qualified to be an assistant coach on those terms, in our view, he's just as qualified to be a head coach." Lawton called Tocchet a "very straightforward individual" who is respected as a former player. He stressed there's no timetable for deciding if the interim coach is the long-term solution. The Lightning have lost three straight games, dropping to fourth in the Southeast Division with a 5-7-4 record. Despite the presence of Martin St. Louis, Vincent Lecavalier and No. 1 draft pick Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay ranks last in goals in the NHL. Melrose is the second NHL coach to be fired this season -- Chicago dismissed Denis Savard after four games. Islanders' Pock suspended New York Islanders defenseman Thomas Pock was suspended for five games without pay Friday for elbowing Ottawa forward Ryan Shannon the previous night. Pock was given a major penalty and a game misconduct for elbowing Shannon 15:44 into the third period Thursday night. Shannon, who was making his Senators' debut, had to be helped off the ice to the dressing room. Canucks' Bieksa out 2 weeks Vancouver defenseman Kevin Bieksa is expected to miss two weeks with a broken foot. Bieksa leads Vancouver's defense in scoring with 11 points in 13 games and the team in average ice time at 24:38. He was hurt by a teammate's shot against Nashville on Nov. 4, but finished that game and played three more before the fracture was discovered on Thursday. Vancouver also expects forward Pavol Demitra back today after he missed 10 games because of rib cartilage he injured in a game Oct. 19. Demitra has three points in six games. He signed a two-year, $8 million free agent contract last summer. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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