ERIK ERLENDSSON 

RUSSIAN ROOKIE STILL GETTING COMFORTABLE

UNIONDALE, N.Y. - Alex Svitov's arrival in Tampa was a heralded event.

The No. 3 pick in the 2001 draft, he spent a year in military limbo in his native Russia and came to the Lightning with the kind of attention and expectations generally reserved for superstars in waiting.

Eight months later, the Lightning still are waiting for Svitov to blossom. That doesn't mean the roots are close to being set, because the seeds are in place.

It's been an up and down year for Svitov, who was freed from his military obligation in June and officially signed a contract a few days after leaving Russia, as he slowly adapts to the NHL and North America.

There are signs of the talent that made Svitov the third pick in the draft two years ago. He enjoyed what was his best game during his rookie season Saturday at Florida when he finished with his first career multipoint game. Svitov showed his underrated wrist shot when he beat Jani Hurme from between the circles and displayed some passing skill to set up Dave Andreychuk. Svitov finished as a plus-two and won 57 percent of his faceoffs in just over nine minutes of ice time.

``I thought he played one of his better games in Sunrise,'' Lightning general manager Jay Feaster said. ``But what we always talk about with Alex is always in terms of consistency. We need to see him battling in the corners, holding on to the puck, winning his draws ... just keep focusing on playing with determination on every shift.''

Svitov has been effective at times in a limited role, but has shown the rust of playing just a handful of games in a 12-month period. His best attribute has been his on-ice awareness, defensively and offensively, in the offensive zone. Svitov rarely misreads the play to cover the point when a defenseman pinches in and has shown a willingness to play in the high contact areas.

``He has a different type of mental awareness at such a young age in all situations of the game, it's a matter of that happening consistently throughout the game,'' Lightning coach John Tortorella said. ``We need him to play with an edge and he has to bring up the intensity level a bit. He has to understand how he has to battle in this league to stay here and do the things competitively to keep getting your ice time and slowly but surely he is coming along with that.''

Andreychuk, who played on the same line with Svitov for the first time Saturday, sees the upside Svitov possesses and said he could be a factor as the Lightning continue to battle for a playoff spot.

``I believe that he will be able to score goals with his size and strength, he has that ability to hold on to the puck,'' Andreychuk said. ``You can see that he is getting better every day and then you play with him and you see he can make some plays. The energy that he can bring can help us.''

As long as it's consistent.

``It's about wanting to go all-out on each and every shift,'' Feaster said. ``We are pleased with his progress and it's been an OK season for him, but if he's going to be an impact player on this team he has to compete, just like we ask everybody else, on every shift.''