The Lightning will look for only their second postseason appearance in eight seasons. With one of the top young defensive groups in the NHL and a superstar in Vincent Lecavalier, there is reason to think this will be the year.

What has to happen

If the Lightning expect to have any shot of the playoffs, someone other than Lecavalier will have to step up.

Only six players scored more than 10 goals last season, a number Tampa Bay cannot repeat. Players like Ryan Johnson, Yogi Svejkovsky and Wayne Primeau will need to take advantage of more ice time and provide breakout seasons.

What can't happen

Dudley cannot decide more trades are in order to improve his team.

The Lightning had over 50 different faces pass through the locker room last season. Another Ice Palace fire sale will only guarantee a top draft pick in 2001.

Tampa Bay will also need a way to stay healthy throughout the year. The team lost over 400-man games to injury, with the defense suffering the heaviest losses.

The Lightning pride themselves on their young defensive group, but if they need to rely on not-ready-for-prime-time talent to protect their netminders, the playoffs are out of the question.

The mental approach

One major factor in Tampa Bay's success is team chemistry, and Lecavalier knows this.

A revolving door in the Lightning locker room left very little time for players to bond. Road trips often found different cliques going in separate directions.

Lecavalier, who will have the entire season with the captain's "C" on his jersey, plans on getting the team together more often. Team dinners will become commonplace and side trips on the road will include more than just a few players.

If the 20-year-old captain can get Tampa Bay's team chemistry together, it could turn out to be the most important intangible throughout the season.

Noteworthy

Tampa Bay signed Sheldon Keefe to a rookie deal last Thursday. ... The Panthers and Lightning accumulated over 200 penalty minutes in a 2-1 Florida victory. Among the highlights from fight night: Goalie Dan Cloutier skating across the ice to spar with Florida's third-string goaltender, Sean Gauthier. ... Lecavalier has not participated in any exhibition games due to an injured elbow. He has been cleared to play on Tuesday, but Tampa Bay may decide to hold him out considering the game is a rematch against Florida. ... Tampa's goaltending situation got more clouded with the addition of Evgeny Konstantinov. He played shutout hockey in just under two periods against Florida and caught Ludzik's eye. The Lightning are considering carrying the 19-year-old as their third goaltender. ... Gordie Dwyer could see a hefty suspension following his actions in a fight against Washington's Joe Reekie. Dywer is suspended indefinitely until a hearing is set.