Finally, it has happened to me. Right in front of my face, my feelings can’t describe it. Finally it has happened to me. Right in front of my face and I just cannot hide it. -CeCe Peniston
Public Service Announcement: Ok, here we go! Well, it’s about time. Barry Melrose finally got his first win as Tampa Bay coach. Melrose is no stranger to winning. He won the Memorial Cup leading the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL. He won the Calder Cup leading the Adirondack Red Wings of the AHL. And he led the Great One and the Los Angeles Kings to their first and only Stanley Cup finals. And now, six games into the season, Melrose led the Tampa Bay Lightning to their first win of the season.
This victory was Barry Melrose’s first win as an NHL coach since April 6, 1995, when his Los Angeles Kings beat the Dallas Stars, 3-2. Only three players in the lineup that night for the Kings are still active in the NHL. Only Rob Blake. Only Robert Lang. And only Darryl Sydor. Melrose lost his final six games as coach of the Kings and he was winless in five games with the Lightning this season.
Even though Melrose went more than 13 1/2 years between wins, he fell far short of the record for the longest gap between victories by an NHL coach. That distinction is held by the inimitable John Muckler of Edmonton Oiler fame. Another coach of the Great One blessed be he. Muckler went 20 years, 288 days between his last win as coach of the North Stars and his first win as coach of the Oilers. And he won himself a Cup. A Stanley Cup. Can Melrose match that trick? First, let’s just see if he keeps his job.
Public Spectacle:
Peace out homies. Six Two and Even!
Need More? Barry Melrose,NHL,Tampa Bay Lightning
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