Victory! Photo by Alexis Boucher

So… you guys saw that game too, right? We’re not just imagining the 8-3 thumping the Lightning delivered to the Winnipeg Jets?  The strength of Tampa’s start this season has been pretty unbelievable. After tonight’s victory they are 6-1-0 and have scored five or more goals in four straight games. If this is a dream, please don’t wake us.

Tampa’s power play has been extremely strong and definitely took advantage of Winnipeg’s penalties. Cory Conacher got things under way with the first goal. Chris Thorburn was given a five minute penalty for checking defenseman Sami Salo from behind. Salo left the bench for a bit to get patched up but did return. The Jets were called for two minor penalties while the 5 minutes ticked off the clock, giving Steven Stamkos and Vinny Lecavalier the chance to score their own goals with a 5-3 man advantage.

» Continue reading “Soarin’ : Lightning Down Jets 8-3″

Maurice Richard Trophy Photo by Linda Hamilton

A piece of the Hockey Hall of Fame is going to be in our backyard this Friday, Bolts Nation. The Maurice “Rocket” Richard trophy will  be on display at the Tampa Bay Times Forum for the Lighting’s game against the Winnipeg Jets.  The hardware will be on the West Plaza prior to the game and at various locations throughout the arena. Fans can pose for pictures with the trophy at the display areas.

The Richard trophy was on the plaza prior to a preseason game after Vincent Lecavalier won it during the 2006-07 season. Not a whole lot of people were buzzing around it to take pictures, so you could take pretty much as much time as you wanted to really study the names on it. Given the three straight sell outs, that may not be the case tomorrow so you might want to see it early.

Donated by the Montreal Canadiens to the NHL in 1999, the award has been given to the league’s leading goal scorer since the end of the 1998-99 season. In addition to Vinny’s win, Steven Stamkos has won the trophy in 2010 and 2012 as a member of the Lightning as well.

Steven Stamkos Photo by Linda Hamilton

It took all of the Lightning’s 82 games this season, but Steven Stamkos scored his 60th goal tonight as the Bolts defeated Winnipeg 4-3 in a dramatic overtime victory.

In this case, it’s probably best to let Stammer’s work speak for itself:

It’s not really a surprise that the goal came with one assist from Marty St. Louis. He and Stamkos have combined to be such a dangerous tandem on the ice, it is absolutely magical to watch. Only fitting that Marty gets one of the helpers on this landmark goal.

I have to give a lot of credit to the Winnipeg fans. After booing him every time he touched the puck in Tampa’s previous trips out there, they gave him a standing ovation after he scored his 60th.

» Continue reading “Stamkos Reaches 60, Purcell Nets Hat Trick In Bolts Win”

The credit for the photo goes totally to Lightning forward Teddy Purcell who claims to have seen this hanging over Steven Stamkos’ bed.

Stammer’s quest for 60 goals is pretty much what everyone is looking for tonight as Tampa is set to take on the Winnipeg  Jets this evening.

Tampa heads into the ‘Peg on a two game losing streak. Since they’ve already been eliminated from the playoffs, you kind of have to wonder what there is left to play for?

As the pre-game jumbotron videos during their final home games told us, there is ALWAYS something to play for. Pride. Your teammates. Your fans. Your sniper who is poised to make history.

Times like these are a struggle for the guys on the ice and the fans in the stands. It hurts and it’s hard to face 6 whole months without Lightning hockey, but there is a positive. Losing and hard times make teams better. You can’t win without dealing with adversity and the same goes for fans.

For now, put on your jersey and get your game day snacks ready. Hit up Twitter and get #60forStamkos trending. Cheer loud and proud. The season may be ending, but we’re not going gentle into that good night.

Game on, Bolts Nation. I’ll see you at 7 for puck drop.

Photo by Alexis Boucher

After suffering several periods of injury of the course of the season, gritty Lightning forward Ryan Malone has had a heck of a final few weeks of the season.

Through 15 games in March, Bugsy had 10 goals and 5 assists in 15 games. That puts his season goal tally at 20.

In addition to showing up on the score sheet, Malone has been showing a lot of the physicality he’s known for. In last Saturday’s victory over the Winnipeg Jets, he not only scored 2 of the team’s goal but he also logged a fight.

He was one assist away from a Gordie Howe Hat Trick on Gordie’s actual birthday!

It’s still Friday in some parts of the world, so tonight we honor Bugsy’s glove dropping moments in the last 7 days.

And this one:

Well done, sir. Well done indeed.

Steven Stamkos Photo by Linda Hamilton

As the Tampa Bay Lightning take the ice in Montreal for one of their final games, one man has the eyes of the hockey world on him more intensely than ever.

The Bolts may not be poised to make the playoffs, but their star sniper is poised to make history of his own.

Steven Stamkos sits at 58 goals on the season and has three games left to hit the 60 goal mark before it’s all said and done.

If he does score those 2 goals, he will join Alex Ovechkin as the only players to reach 60 in the last 12 years. Stammer would be the first North American player to achieve 60 since Mario Lemieux scored 69 goals in 1995-1996.

One of the reasons why Steven has run away with the Maurice Richard Trophy race this year is that his game has evolved an insane amount since he first came into the league in 2008-09. His deadly wrist shot is well documented, but now he is starting to go to the net and score more “dirty” goals.

The good news is that Stamkos has had scoring success against their three remaining opponents. He has 2 goals in three games against Montreal, one in three games against Toronto, and three in five games against Winnipeg.

If he stays hot, there’s a possibility he could eclipse 60 and aim even higher.

Update:  Or he could be held scoreless in the Lightning’s 5-2 loss to the Habs. Ah well. The hunt resumes tomorrow in Toronto.