Florida game

Posted Nov 22, 2006 by Erik Erlendsson

Updated Nov 22, 2006 at 04:07 PM

Tonight is an important game for Tampa Bay to erase the taste from the last game. Nobody likes to get embarrassed, it’s not fun.

But the best way to have fun is to win a few games and it cures a lot of ailments. Tonight we should see which way this team wants to go, on the road back up and get on a run or down into a spiral that could get out of control. I’m not trying to be over dramatic here, but they have to re-establish themselves after getting it handed to them Monday in Buffalo.

And one bit of comment, those asking for John Tortorella to get fired, you are wasting your key strokes - it’s not going to happen. The only way the coach gets canned is if the GM gets canned with him, and that’s not going to happen - both just signed lengthy and expensive extensions before last season and we all know how ownership is about handing out money so why would they want to hand over that much to people no longer employed!!!!

Johan Holmqvist will be back net tonight with Marc Denis as the backup. Luke Richardson will be a healthy scratch while Tim Taylor is not quite ready to return.

Lines are as follows, at least to start the game:

Vinny Prospal-Vinny Lecavalier-Ruslan Fedotenko

Nikita Alexeev-Brad Richards-Marty St. Louis

Ryan Craig-Blair Jones-Eric Perrin

Nick Tarnasky-Andreas Karlsson-Dmitry Afanasenkov

Defensive pairings

Doug Janik-Dan Boyle

Paul Ranger-Cory Sarich

Nolan Pratt-Filip Kuba