Good energy, good effort by the Lightning thus far tonight, even if the scoreboard does not reflect it as the score is 2-1 in favor of the Fighting Luongos. Vancouver’s first shot of the game went in and the Canucks didn’t have a shot on goal again until there was about 5 minutes left in the period.

And also at one point tonight, there were more scoring corrections than there were Vancouver shots on goal - with corrections ahead by a 2-1 margin.

I wasn’t crazy about the first Vancouver goal as it appeared Karri Ramo dropped too soon on a rising shot from Luc Bourdon. The second Vancouver goal was a bit unlucky as an Alex Burrows pass fumbled its way past a couple of sticks right to the skate of Taylor Pyatt who found the top corner glove side with 3:36 left in the first period.

There is a good energy level with Tampa Bay right now, some good forechecking and battles along the wall.

One other thing to pass along - there are a number of scouts here yet again, including new pro scouts from Philadelphia and Columbus. Phoenix, which had it’s player personnel director here for the past two games, has a pro scout in attendence tonight while Ottawa pro scout Nick Polano is back for the second consecutive game.

Also, apparently Rick Dudley is here - you know, the former Lightning general manager now the assistant GM in Chicago - the fourth time in the past five home games that Chicago has been present.

SECOND INTERMISSION

I have to say that I didn’t see that period coming. Tampa Bay has some serious jump in their skates tonight. They are forechecking like crazy against a team that sits back and traps, traps, traps with its all-world goaltender protecting the back end. And they have been hitting like crazy, heck, Jan Hlavac has a couple of solid checks this period and how about the lick Brad Lukowich laid on Alex Burrows down in the corner? Considering that Burrows has been playing a pest role tonight, that had to feel good for the Lightning bench to see, especially Lecavalier. By the way, Tampa Bay was credited with 18 hits in the second period for a total of 26 through 40 minutes.

Speaking of Vinny, I truly think he hates Roberto Luongo the goaltender (not the person). How many times have we seen Vinny robbed by Luongo while he was playing for Florida? Too many, if you ask me, and we saw it again when Lecavalier came in alone on a breakaway 30 seconds after Chris Gratton tied the score, only Luongo got the his glove on the puck.

Lecavalier got his revenge, however, late in the period after Brad Richards got his stick on a pass attempt by Alex Edler and St. Louis’ pass through the slot trickled over to Lecavalier who put a shot to the far post away from a sliding Luongo with 3:31 left in the period.

It’s nice to see the effort. We all know the season is all but lost, but there are still plenty of things to play for - like staying on this roster this year (or maybe off the roster) or playing for a job next season.