Hockey Hearsay

Hockey Hearsay runs weekdays, 12 months a year; mixing NHL stories, quotes and fantasy takes.

The Tampa Tribune describes how the hockey world was abuzz after Tampa Bay's nationally televised game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday, debating whether the Lightning's style of play is a buzz kill.

Shortly after the opening faceoff, the Flyers held the puck in their own zone while Tampa Bay set up in a 1-3-1 neutral zone trap, a system the Lightning use to force turnovers. The Flyers did not go on the attack, instead trying to pull the Lightning out of their defensive posture.

Neither team budged in its strategy, with Philadelphia employing the tactic a handful of times and Tampa Bay keeping its formation. The Lightning won 2-1 in overtime, limiting the Flyers to a season-low 15 shots on goal.

Boucher was not bothered by the criticism.

"I don't care what people say," Boucher said on Thursday. "I coach our team and I'm paid to win games and our rink is full. (General manager) Steve Yzerman is happy. The comments don't bother me and I really don't know the extent of it.

"We play the same way we played last year and we're going to continue playing that way. In every game, every team has a strategy. We have a strategy against the other team and during the game we adjust and re-adjust and other teams have to do the same against us. It's an ongoing process, whether it's on the ice or off the ice. The only thing that matters is what happens on the ice. We've got our strengths and weaknesses. We play to our strengths."

The Tribune points out the discussion extended to locker rooms throughout the league.

"You want to see hockey, people pay to see a show, people pay to see skating and skills and stuff like that,'' former Lightning wing Alex Tanguay told reporters in Calgary. "And I guess it's working for (Tampa), but as far as I'm concerned, if I was a fan paying, I would much rather see a team that is aggressive and skating rather than a team that is waiting for something out there."

Toronto coach Ron Wilson was an interested observer.

"It gives me food for thought … but I hear people say that's a trap, it's not a trap, it's a 1-3-1 and we use it sometimes off faceoffs when we lose a faceoff," Wilson told reporters on Thursday. "A lot of teams use it now based on the success Tampa had last year doing it. But not to the extent where a guy doesn't go over the blue line to check, that's boring to me.''

Tampa Bay is not alone in its strategy, Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said.

"It's more pronounced than other teams, but there's probably 15 teams that play 1-3-1," Ruff told the Buffalo News. "We play it on occasion. We like a couple different looks, though. That's his right to play whatever system he wants."

Lecavalier was a bit surprised by all the backlash.

"For the past 95 games it's been the same system and we didn't change anything, so that's why I'm surprised there is all this talk about it,'' he said. "I don't really care about what they are saying. We are playing the way we want to play and that's it.''

Boucher was steadfast.

"When we attack, we attack. When we defend, we defend – pack mentality," he said. "So I don't want to answer to other people. We're ourselves and that's who we are and that's how I coach. I'm paid to win."

The Calgary Herald says Mikael Backlund has been waiting for this day since the Calgary Flames packed up their bags and headed for the hills last summer.

At that time, GM Jay Feaster and coach Brent Sutter promised the young Swede that he’d launch this season on the No. 1 line with Jarome Iginla and Alex Tanguay, a couple of wingers with whom he’d developed some chemistry during the latter part of last season.

So it felt a little like Christmas following Thursday morning’s skate at the Scotiabank Saddledome when it was announced that the 22-year-old would finally get the green light to rejoin the team tonight at Chicago after missing the first 14 games with a broken pinky finger.

“It’s been a long time. I’m real excited. It’s going to feel great going out to play . . . almost like Christmas. Just real excited and pumped to go on this trip,” Backlund said, rattling off his words in typical machine-gun fashion.

“I’ve been working hard for a lot of weeks now . . . practising with the guys this week. It feels good. I feel fresh and ready to go.”

While Backlund returns fit as a fiddle, he isn’t quite sure how he’ll perform on faceoffs. The finger doesn’t bother his shooting but he’s uncertain how it’ll hold up in serious puck drops. About the only real feel for it has been with injured defenceman Brett Carson.

“I did a little bit yesterday and the day before with the team and the finger’s fine with it but it always helps having Tangs and Iggy ‘cause they can take faceoffs if I start to feel uncomfortable or if I’m losing at it or whatever,” he said, smiling.

“This is a big opportunity for me. Two great players, top players in the league for a long time. Experienced players. It’s going to be a lot of fun. I just have to work hard, play my game and try and help those guys produce more.

“I’m going to try to stay calm, not get too nervous, take it as another game.”

With Backlund moving in with Iginla and Tanguay, Sutter shuffled the remaining three lines. Olli Jokinen practised with regular left winger Curtis Glencross and new addition Rene Bourque. David Moss moved off the right side of that line to centre Tom Kostopoulos and Tim Jackman, while rookie pivot Roman Horak wound up with usual centre Matt Stajan on his left side and Lee Stempniak on his right.

The spare forwards were Brendan Morrison and Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond. Morrison was later placed on injury reserve, the club saying it feels the veteran centre needs more recuperative time from off-season knee surgery.

The Ottawa Citizen reports that Daniel Alfredsson is set to return to the Ottawa Senators’ lineup after missing five games with a concussion, and the hope is he’ll immediately create a different kind of headache for opposing defencemen.

After starting out with a surprising burst of scoring — that was supposed to be the Senators’ weak link this season — the Senators have fallen back into the middle of the NHL pack on offence.

The current dip coincides with the loss of Alfredsson, who took an elbow to the head from New York Rangers winger Wojtek Wolski on Oct. 29 and didn’t return.

Not only did the injury take the most dynamic member of the Senators’ second line out of the mix, it also allowed opponents to really key in on the top trio of Colin Greening, Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek.

The result: Those three combined for all of two points over the following four games.

Now, on 11/11/11, No. 11 returns against a team he has dominated over the years.

“I feel ready and I feel very confident about going back — otherwise I wouldn’t be,” said Alfredsson, who has 40 goals and 81 points in 80 career games against the Sabres.

“I’m not going to be cautious,” he added. “You’ve got to be ready at all times on the ice. I’ve said that before, so it’s the same. I think if you don’t feel you’re ready, you shouldn’t start playing again.”

The Raleigh News & Observer recalls that Jussi Jokinen initially feared the worst. So did everyone else who saw the play.

That Jokinen would miss just three games, that the Carolina Hurricanes forward would be able to play tonight against the New York Rangers, seemed all but impossible after such a scary looking play. The way he fell - the way his left leg was pinned - Jokinen could have been lost for the season.

"To miss three games, after how that injury happened and how I felt after that, I'll take that any day," Jokinen said Thursday.

Jokinen was hurt in the Canes' Nov. 1 game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. After a faceoff early in the third period, the Lightning's Ryan Shannon stumbled into the back of Jokinen's legs, causing Jokinen to tumble backward. His left leg was trapped under Shannon's body.

"Obviously I felt right away that something went bad," Jokinen said. "I saw it again (on replays) later that night and it looked even worse."

Many theorized Jokinen had broken his ankle or injured his left knee, possibly tearing the anterior cruciate ligament.

"You're always scared of the worst-case scenario," Jokinen said. "But when I came in (the locker room) the doctors checked my ACL and said that's fine, which was really great news."

So were the results of two MRI exams late the next day.

"That showed it wasn't real bad," Jokinen said. "I was pretty sore, but that was great news again. I think I was very lucky."

Canes coach Paul Maurice is putting back together the productive line of Jokinen at center with Jeff Skinner and Tuomo Ruutu on the wings.

In Thursday's practice at Chelsea Piers, Maurice had Eric Staal centering Alexei Ponikarovsky and Zach Boychuk. Brandon Sutter was at center with Jiri Tlusty and Chad LaRose, and Tim Brent centered Zac Dalpe and Anthony Stewart.

Forward Patrick Dwyer was ill and did not practice but is expected to go tonight. Maurice did not say which forward would be scratched if Dwyer is available.

ESPN Dallas writes that Friday’s game is going to be a little different for Dallas Stars defenseman Alex Goligoski. For the first time since being traded to the Dallas Stars, Goligoski will be playing in Pittsburgh, where he started his NHL career, played four seasons and won a Stanley Cup.

“I’m sure it will be weird. It’s not too weird coming to the building, but playing against the guys it’s going to be kind of weird having been with them for so long,” Goligoski said. “It’s like I know what they’re going to do before they do it, and they probably think the same thing about me. It’ll probably be a little weird for a few shifts there.”

While Friday’s experience will be a new one for Goligoski, he’s settled in now with the Stars following last February’s trade that brought him to Dallas and sent forward James Neal and defenseman Matt Niskanen to the Penguins.

“It’s been fun. It was a whirlwind, but starting the year this year things have been great. The team is playing really well. It’s a little different weather, but it’s been good nonetheless,” Goligoski said. “You get settled, get an apartment, you’re more comfortable, you get to know the guys better. It’s a better situation. When you’re comfortable then you’re playing well.”

The Stars saw the deal as important move to shore up their blue line and give them a skilled, puck moving defenseman.

“We look at Goose and we just see an elite defenseman,” said Stars coach Glen Gulutzan. “Great character, elite defenseman offensive and defensively. He’s a well-rounded guy. He cares as much about defending as he does about points. That’s rare with some guys. He competes at both ends. He’s an invaluable guy for us.”

The trade to Dallas was an opportunity for Goligoski, who was down Pittsburgh’s defensive depth chart at the time of the deal. It was an also an opportunity for the Penguins to add some scoring punch up front with the acquisition of Neal.

“We had a lot of good defensemen in Pittsburgh. They were looking for a forward for a long time. It was just one of those things. Someone has to go if you’re going to bring someone in,” Goligoski said. “Hopefully, it works out for both sides. Both teams are doing well, so right now it looks like it.”

Luke, from Parts Unknown: "Hi Chris, I have Cammallerri, but he seems to get injured alot and hasn't really produced this season.

Wondering if I should be patient or if I should replace him with one of the following FA: WHitney, Ryder, E.Kane, Tomas Fleischmann, Gagne , Malone, Brunette

Non-keeper, Head to Head, Points, PIMS, +/-, Shots, Hits, FW, PPP, SHG, GWG

What do you think I should do? Thanks!"

Chris: Cammalleri will be fine and he's getting his chances, so the goals will start to go in sooner or later. You have some decent options available though, so I'd be ok with you making a swap if you wanted. Gagne should have solid points, +/- and he shoots too, like Cammalleri. Gagne is a top six lock too.

Tomas Fleischmann has been faring even better and although I'm not sure this +/- pace will keep up, he's been a really solid asset. Those two guys would likely be my first two choices. Gagne might have a bit more upside over the course of the season, but Fleischmann is in a position to succeed in FLA and he's been great so far this season. I don't believe he'll produce this many points all season, but he'll still be a good guy to have in most cases.

Email: chris.nichols@sportsnet.rogers.com

Submit your brief fantasy hockey question for a Hockey Hearsay blog via email. One per person, please and include your first name and hometown to represent!

­Chris Nichols is Sportsnet.ca's fantasy hockey writer.