Change in habits

Any hound here in Humidity Bay knows that getting the Lightning players to sign after morning skates or practices is, at best, hot-or-miss. Sometimes, most every player -- including stars Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis -- will stop to sign. Other times, though, they'll drive right on by.

But from what Hound Central 4.0 correspondent Moody tells me, he gets the sense that the Bolts are a much better signing team on the road rather than at home.

Moody caught up with the Bolts yesterday down in South Florida, where they were practicing before tonight's tilt against the Sunshine State rival, the Florida Panthers. He reports that every player signed for the five or six hounds (a sizable crowd, he says) that were there.

Moody was quick to point out how nice St. Louis was yesterday. Not only did he take the time to interact with Moody's toddler, but he also signed a scored-goal puck from his MVP season and a 8x10 of himself and Moody's oldest child.

Lecavalier, on the other hand, signed, but didn't seem too thrilled about, Moody said.

Beyond Lightning rookie Steven Stamkos, who signed the two homemade cards shown above, others signing yesterday were Ryan Craig, Chris Gratton (a surprising four cards, given his inconsistentcy in Tampa), Jussi Jokinen, Olaf Kolzig (six cards), Lukas Krajicek, Andrej Meszaros, Matt Pettinger (four cards), Vinny Prospal and the slightly grumpy Rick Tocchet.

All told, Moody added another 29 autographs. Not bad, I'd say.