The date was September 10, 2006 and the U.S. Geological Survey National Earthquake Information Center reported that a magnitude 6.0 earthquake took place roughly 250 miles west of the Tampa Bay area in the Gulf of Mexico.

While 6.0 on the Richter scale is a sizeable event, hardly anyone noticed. A few said they "felt" something and as surfers flocked to the west coast of Florida waiting for a mini-tsunami because it happened out in a body of water, their boards remained stuck in the sand as there was nary a ripple in the waters.

There was another seismic event that took place five weeks later, one that may have moved the world of its axis.

To this day no one knows what to call it because it was an unnatural disaster, possibly of epic proportions only in this case you knew the exact number of people who felt it.

It was the entire roster of the Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey Club.

Sports writers simply said it Tortorella being Tortorella, hockey's version of baseball's Manny being Manny up in Beantown. The head coach of the Lightning throwing a fit is like a day without rain during hurricane season. You know it is coming so you just sit back and wait for it to happen.

Sports talk hosts opened up the possibility of a coaching change because of a line usually uttered behind closed doors and it is the general manager telling his now former coach as he is being ushered out the door.

But John Tortorella is not your average coach, Jay Feaster is not your average GM and the Lightning are not your average franchise.

Wearing a straight face and staring dead center into a camera Torts said: "I know there are certain players tuning me out."

Such phraseology never comes from a guy behind the bench and it was timed with one of the most physical of practices this side of Camp Torture-ella every September when this team prepares for the upcoming season.

The first time I heard it I said to myself: "Did he just say what I thought he said?" I started flipping around the TV channels like a college freshman looking for a party and station after station had the same clip.

Did Tortorella know something we did not? Was he looking for a way out of Tampa Bay? Did he simply lose his mind?

Actually, it was none of the above.

While it may be true that some may have "tuned him out" due in part to his high intensity way of coaching and never really being satisfied even after wins, Tortorella simply found yet another motivating tool for a team skating in cement.

Accountability he called it. Get the guys with the open ears to show the others the way.

At first blush I thought it was John Grahame redux, only this time throwing the entire team under the bus instead of his former goalie, who by the way is the backup for the team that put this whole thing into motion.

It was impossible for me to fathom a younger player going up to a veteran and say: "Get your head out of your butt." Should a player tune out his coach what make anyone think that same person is going to take advice from some whipper-snapper?

Whatever, early results have been encouraging.

Since the 5-1 debacle in front of the home crowd on October 15 leaving them 2-4-0 with a grand total of a dozen goals, and average of two a game, their record was quite deserved.

In the four subsequent contests they were 3-1, the power play went from a paltry 3.3%, next to last in the league, to 12.3% and up five spots and scored nineteen times. Again, record deserved.

Accountability or coincidence?

Two seasons ago it was a simple philosophy, put the puck in net, get good goaltending, win most games, make playoffs and win the Cup.

Last year the goaltending went into the tank and the rest of the Lightning's way of life was flushed into Tampa Bay. One and done as an eight seed.

It was a sad ending for the defending champs so GM Feaster went out and got the best goaltender available, Marc Denis, and strengthened the defense.

Through his first nine appearances Denis has been everything as advertised an the Bolts can play their up-tempo, half-ice game knowing they will give up the odd-man rushes and have someone back they can depend on. His 2.59 goals-against is more than respectable.

At one point his GAA was below two and had a losing record.

For now there will be no changes at the head coaching position, the Lightning have too much invested in Tortorella's system to kick him to the curb anytime soon. That is not to say he doesn't have his faults like criticizing players in the press or getting under your skin but it always happens when the time is right.

The trademark of the Bolts the two years before the lockout was start fast and let everyone else chase you down. It was different last year.

Some said it was between the pipes. Others pointed to the big three (Martin St. Louis, Vinny Lecavalier and Brad Richards) falling down on the job. The defense got their share of the blame. Ultimately it came down to two men, the coach and GM.

One bad season does not a loser remake (remember the bad old days?). The Bolts are a good team that needs a motivator and they have arguably the best in the business. Like him or loathe him, a John Tortorella coached team will not be allowed to rest on their laurels nor will his team become statues for pigeons to perch.

Granted it is way too early in the season for him to reach into his bag of tricks but if the Lightning do not win Lord Stanley's hardware it won't be for lack of trying. Or yelling.

Anyone listening?