Lightning dismiss Melrose

BARRY MELROSE16 games, 5 wins

TAMPA - 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.

Melrose was fired yesterday less than five months after he left television to coach a team that finished with the league's worst record last season.

"This was a tough decision to make," general manager Brian Lawton said. "However, the results were unacceptable and the players have to understand that we need to be better. Hopefully this change helps push them."

Tocchet was named interim coach. He was sentenced to two years' probation in 2007 after pleading guilty in a gambling investigation into a sports betting ring. Tocchet, who played with the Bruins for parts of two seasons, said he never bet on NHL games.

"We believe he's the type of coach who can take the team to the next level," Lawton said.

The Lightning (5-7-2-2) have lost three straight games, dropping to fourth in the Southeast Division. Despite the presence of Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay ranks last in goals in the NHL.

Melrose is the second NHL coach to be fired this season - the Chicago Blackhawks dismissed Denis Savard after four games.

Out of coaching for 13 years, Melrose was lured back to the bench by new Lightning owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie as a replacement for John Tortorella, who led Tampa Bay to its only Stanley Cup championship.

Melrose coached Los Angeles from 1992-95. In his first season, the Wayne Gretzky-led Kings lost to Montreal in the Stanley Cup finals. Melrose spent 12 years at ESPN before taking over the Lightning.

Tocchet has been in the NHL for 25 years as a player and coach.