Photo by Alexis Boucher

Another game at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, another shootout. Unfortunately things didn’t go in the Bolts’ favor this time. They managed to earn a point, but with the season slipping away that second one is key. Tampa managed to rally from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game, showing a resilience that hasn’t always been present this season.

The score sheet looked a little different this evening. For starters, Steven Stamkos and Marty St. Louis’ names weren’t on it. Tom Pyatt and Alex Killorn scored both of Tampa’s goals. Victor Hedman, Matt Carle, and Teddy Purcell registered the helpers. The Bolts did stage an offensive flurry, getting 41 shots on goal in regulation.

The team looked a little more tempered than in Friday’s victory. Jon Cooper is getting more practice time and that’s only a good thing. With a three game road trip looming , the remainder of this week will likely determine if the Bolts make the post season or have an early summer. They have been resilient, but they need to come ready to play.

Alex Killorn Photo by Alexis Boucher

It was difficult to know what to expect out of the Tampa Bay Lightning headed into last night’s game against the New Jersey Devils. The first game under the tutelage of a new head coach and Andrej Sustr making his NHL debut on the blue line.  It may be late in the season, but a new era was dawning for the hockey club.

The teams scored 5 goals in about 8 minutes in the second period. Three for New Jersey, two for the Lightning. Steven Stamkos recoreded his 24th and 25th goals of the season.  Nate Thompson notched his 7th of the year in the second as well.

Alex Killorn brought the drama when he scored with 15 seconds left in regulation to tie the game and send it to overtime. Teddy Purcell and Victor Hedman scored in the shootout, Mathieu Garon stopped the two Devs he faced, and that’s all she wrote. It will be interesting to see what the team brings to the table for Tuesday’s game after more practice time with Jon Cooper.

» Continue reading “Lightning Down The Devils, Thompson Suspended”

Anders Lindback Photo by Alexis Boucher

Whew. It was a busy day when it comes to Lightning news. Best to jump right in.

-When Anders Lindback left last night’s game against the Leafs, it didn’t look good. He went in in relief for a struggling Mathieu Garon, and left almost as quickly. The team issued the bad news earlier today. Lindback is out indefinitely with a right ankle sprain. With a little over a month left in the season, it’s pretty safe to say he’s done for the year.

-In light of Lindback’s injury, Cedrick Desjardins has been recalled from the Syracuse Crunch. Twitter buzz suggests Guy Boucher is planning on going with Garon in net for both Saturday and Sunday’s games. Richard Panik has also been recalled due to Ryan Malone’s shoulder injury.

- Tampa signed NCAA free agent defenseman Andrej Sustr to a two year entry level contract. The 22 year old Czech blueliner is literally a huge signing, as he is 6’8″ and 225 pounds.  If his name sounds familiar, you may have seen him at last summer’s prospect camp. The University of Nebraska-Omaha Maverick recorded nine goals, 25 points, and 53 penalty minutes through 39 games this season.

-Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Joffrey Lupul was suspended 2 games for his hit to Victor Hedman’s head Wednesday night. The league’s suspension video can be seen here.

Photo by Alexis Boucher

It’s tough to know where to begin. Another rough loss that saw the Toronto Maple Leafs score four goals before the Bolts answered. Another late rally that fell just short. Another injury, this time to Anders Lindback who had gone into the game in relief of Mathieu Garon.  Victor Hedman felled by a questionable hit delivered by Joffrey Lupul. Rough times indeed. Definitely not the way you want a road trip to get started.

Let’s focus on the positive. Radko Gudas, and his beard, scored his first career NHL goal. Cory Conacher and Tyler Johnson teamed up for Tampa’s second goal.

Rest, regroup, and get ready for Ottawa on Saturday. And hope Lindback’s lower body injury is only day to day.

Mathieu Garon Photo by Linda Hamilton

Early in the second period of last night’s loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Mathieu Garon moved to his left to make a save on Evgeni Malkin. As he drifted across the crease, it was clear that something was wrong. Tommy Mulligan came out to talk to the netminder for a moment before Garon gingerly left the ice under his own power. Anders Lindback went in in relief and Lightning fans are left with linger questions about another groin injury for Garon. A torn did end his 2011-12 season in March of last year. The team’s word so far is an undisclosed lower body injury, but it’s easy to read between the lines.

The injury brings roster moves. The team has officially announced that Cedrick Desjardins has been recalled from the Syracuse Crunch. Desjardins was re-acquired by the Lightning in mid-February. He’s plaed 28 AHL games this season, amassing a 2.70 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage.

Damian Cristodero of the Tampa Bay Times relayed coach Guy Boucher’s statement that Anders Lindback will get the start in goal tonight against the New Jersey Devils.

Bringing Lindy Back Photo by Alexis Boucher

When teams are struggling to find consistency, it’s easy for fans and pundits to start pointing fingers at perceived scapegoats. In baseball the blame is often assigned to the pitchers, in football it’s the quarterback. In hockey a lot of the woes are placed on the heavily padded shoulders of the goaltender. It makes sense. They are the one man standing in the way of  the opposition getting a tally on the scoreboard. Even if a lot of different factors can contribute to the opposition scoring, the lion’s share of the blame is placed with the masked man between the pipes.

We’ve seen quite a lot of this in Tampa’s shortened season in regards to Anders Lindback. Making the young netminder the scapegoat is extremely short sighted.  A lot of people need to take a chill pill.  Tampa has had goaltending issues for quite some time, but there’s no reason to write Lindback off as a failure 18 games into the season.

» Continue reading “Shut Your Yap: Lay Off Lindback Edition”

Mathieu Garon photo by Jason Haas

Mathieu Garon likes playing in Carolina, eh?.  He also backstopped the team to an early season victory in Raleigh.  » Continue reading “Storm Surge: Bolts Beat Canes 5-2″

Lightning Lockerroom Sign Photo by Linda Hamilton

Bobby “The Chief” Taylor said it best during the Lightning post game radio show this evening.  You don’t win games by allowing 39 shots on goal at home. Unfortunately that’s just what happened during Tampa’s game against the Washington Capitals. There were some good things, but the nagging mistakes continued to come back to bite them. The Bolts mustered another late rally, but fell short of securing a point. The 4-3 loss extended Tampa’s winless streak to 6 games.

Woo freakin’ hoo.

» Continue reading “Bad Romance: Sputtering Lightning Lose 4-3 To Caps”

Photo by Alexis Boucher

It’s tough to be disappointed no matter what you read on Twitter. 2 games in as many nights are difficult for any team no matter how many goals they’ve been scoring. That seems to be what the Lightning suffered tonight. Through the second and third periods they just seemed tired. New York disrupted their rhythm and took the victory in the 3-2 game. A tad ironic as current members of the Rangers Brad Richards and John Tortorella were honored as part of the 20th anniversary celebration this evening.

The main thing that I take away from tonight, other than rage at the jerk Rangers fans sitting behind us, is how fickle Tampa’s fan base really is. Having been with them through thick and thin apparently I assume everyone has as well. Yesterday people were ready to hand the Bolts the Stanley Cup and now the sky is falling. It’s one game. The condensed schedule does place extra importance on each match up, but they’re going to lose games.

» Continue reading “Streak Snapped: Lightning Fall 3-2 To Rangers”

Pierre Cedric Labrie Photo by Linda Hamilton

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced their opening night roster well ahead of Friday’s deadline. Here’s how the team is going to look:

Forwards: Vinny Lecavalier, Steven Stamkos, Marty St. Louis, Teddy Purcell, Ryan Malone, Benoit Pouliot, Tom Pyatt, Dana Tyrell, Adam Hall, Nate Thompson, B.J. Crombeen, Cory Conacher and Pierre-Cedric Labrie.

Defensemen: Victor Hedman, Sam Salo, Eric Brewer, Matt Carle, Brian Lee, Marc-Andre Bergeron, Keith Aulie and Brendan Mikkelson.

Goaltenders: Anders Lindback & Mathieu Garon.

So there you have it.That’s how the 2013 Bolts ( Not 2012-13. There was no 2012 involved in this season) will get started. The coaches seemed extremely positive about Conacher, so his addition isn’t exactly a surprise. Labrie on the other hand? Wow. For a while it seemed like Tyler Johnson could make the jump to the main club. Both he and Conacher have been insanely prolific when it comes to scoring. Johnson’s time is definitely coming, but not this Saturday.

The addition of Labrie and Crombeen have the potential to change the landscape of the on ice product if you will. With the exception of Steve Downie, the Lightning have been more about skill and finesse since Yzerman & Boucher came to town. The mantra was reacting to the opponent. Labrie and Crombeen play their game with a healthy amount of grit and physicality. They’ll be expected to play with discipline, but it could make other teams think twice before they take physical advantage of the Bolts.

Yup. Officially getting excited.