TSN: - The Edmonton Journal insists that the Lightning might like to move Marc Denis, who is losing his spot to Johan Holmqvist,but his contract (which still has two years and $5.8-million remaining) makes it unlikely. The paper names Vaclav Prospal, Ruslan Fedotenko and Cory Sarich as more likely cost-savings trade candidates. Lightning GM Jay Feaster has already made it known that the club's payroll is too high to be playing .500 hockey, so either moves are made to cut those costs, or the Lightning need to have more wins.

The Tampa Tribune: The first mistake came when Dan Boyle's cross-ice pass in his own zone intended for Paul Ranger instead hit Ruslan Fedotenko in the skate right to Eaves, who raced in and beat Holmqvist with a backhand for a short-handed goal 2:47 into the game.

Sports Network: Vincent Lecavalier notched the fourth hat trick of his career and added two assists as the Tampa Bay Lightning continued to be a thorn in the side of Atlanta this season with an 8-0 victory over the Thrashers at St. Pete Times Forum.
Martin St.Louis had a goal and four assists and Dan Boyle and Brad Richards each added a goal and an assist for the Lightning, who snapped a four-game losing streak.
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Ruslan Fedotenko continued the onslaught when he snapped a shot from the right side over the glove of Hedberg at the 9:12 mark.

Sports Network: Dustin Penner scored two goals to lead the Anaheim Ducks to a 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning at St. Pete Times Forum.
Eric Perrin, Ruslan Fedotenko and Brad Richards scored for the Lightning, who have lost five of their last six games. Tampa goaltender Marc Denis allowed four goals on 25 shots.
«They were really aggressive," Fedotenko said. «It seems like we just didn''t put the puck in the net.»
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With 2:35 remaining in the second period, the Lightning pulled to within a goal after Fedotenko scored. Vincent Lecavalier won a faceoff in the right circle and drew the puck to the slot where Fedotenko quickly snapped a wrister past Giguere.

St. Petersburg Times: FEDS BACK ON TRACK?: In the 8-0 win over Atlanta on Thursday, Ruslan Fedotenko scored his first goal in 15 games. Fedotenko, who added a goal Saturday, had just two points during that span after nine in his first 10 games.
Hopefully for the Lightning, it's a sign Fedotenko and Vinny Prospal, who entered with an assist in his past four games, are coming around after the offense was carried by first-liners Marty St. Louis (17 goals, 20 assists) and Vinny Lecavalier (17 goals, 19 assists).
«It would be dramatically different," Fedotenko said. «You can't expect one line to do all your scoring. If everyone produces, that's when you can have a good run.»

St. Petersburg Times: Tampa Bay is about $460,000 under the salary cap (the minimum salary is $450,000), meaning it must trade from the NHL roster to create space.
Feaster never talks about specific player moves, but it is believed underachieving forwards Vinny Prospal, Dmitry Afanasenkov and Andreas Karlsson could be part of the discussions, though the interest level from other teams is unclear or if the return would make a deal worthwhile.

What is clear are these issues:

- Prospal and wing Ruslan Fedotenko must produce more. Prospal has one goal in his past 21 games and was awful with the puck against the Leafs. Fedotenko has three goals in his past 21. Not exactly the way to make people forget Fredrik Modin.
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St. Petersburg Times: Lightning coach John Tortorella said center Vinny Lecavalier and right wing Marty St. Louis are «two of the best, if not the best, players in the National Hockey League.»
That the team is not taking advantage of their production, Tortorella said, is «frustrating.»
«You need other people going. These two guys are two of the best players in the league right now, and we're not picking up points. That's where your support people have to pick up part of the slack.»
Tortorella was talking about players such as Vinny Prospal and Ruslan Fedotenko, who entered Thursday with one and three goals, respectively, in their previous 22 games. Even gritty Ryan Craig had not scored in his previous 10.

FOX Sports: This will naturally provide fodder for cyberspace rumormongers to trot out the usual speculations about Vincent Lecavalier, Brad Richards, Martin St. Louis or Dan Boyle being shopped. Given their respective salaries (and in the case of St. Louis and Richards, their «no-trade» clauses), these rumors aren't to be taken seriously.
The Tampa media has identified the Bolts defensive game as the problem area. Some fans have also taken the club's goaltending tandem of Marc Denis and Johan Holmqvist to task, but realistically there's little, if anything, Feaster can do to upgrade between the pipes this season.
If Feaster does go the trade route he'll likely seek more depth for his blueline and/or checking lines, with forwards Vaclav Prospal, Dmitry Afanasenkov and Andreas Karlsson reportedly potential trade bait.
Another Bolt who might hit the block is forward Ruslan Fedotenko, who's an unrestricted free agent at season's end.

Toronto Sun: The Tampa Bay Lightning is preparing for a major shakeup. GM Jay Feaster has threatened changes and now everybody is waiting for the other shoe to drop. You would think if such change is imminent, the team's trio of stars —- Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis and Brad Richards —- would be coming up in trade talks, but the names being offered around the NHL are forwards Vaclav Prospal and Ruslan Fedotenko. Sources say the Lightning's top priority is goaltending —- the club has been unhappy with the performances of both goalies Johan Holmqvist and G Marc Denis.

The Tampa Tribune: That said, something did change Saturday when forward Ruslan Fedotenko was a healthy scratch for the first time this season. Although the holiday roster freeze is effective at 11:59 tonight, General Manager Jay Feaster said Monday no moves are imminent.
It was, then, a pure and simple benching for Fedotenko, who had six goals in his first 14 games and only two in the next 18. And if it sent the other players a message, Feaster said, that's fine.
«I'm sure that it does," Feaster said. «I think that the guys, though, for the most part, understand the way John does business, the way we do business. It is based on merit. The guys that deserve to play, play. It's even that way during a game. I think players themselves understand when guys aren't on top of their game. If it sends a message, that's a good thing, I guess.»
And even though no deals are expected before the temporary roster freeze tonight, it doesn't mean change isn't imminent — or necessary. Feaster cited the January trade for defenseman Darryl Sydor in 2004 as a key to the team's Stanley Cup run, and restated his desire to make a move of similar import at some point before the Feb. 27 trade deadline.

St. Petersburg Times: FEDOTENKO RETURNS: Wing Ruslan Fedotenko, who was a healthy scratch in the game Saturday at home against Carolina, returned to the lineup Tuesday night.
Fedotenko, who came in with just two goals in his previous 18 games, logged 12:41 of ice time and assisted on forward Nikita Alexeev's second-period goal. It was just Fedotenko's fourth point in his past 18 games.