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Forum: Talk Lightning
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I’m going to get something off my chest here real quick, but I just want to restate once again that this game should have been played earlier in the day, like 5 p.m. At one point early in the second period, there as a smattering of cheers, but nothing was going on on the ice to warrant the outburst. Then somebody called down to me to say that Evan Longoria had just hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first to tie the ALCS at 2-2. Then, later in the period the home run was shown on the video screen, which resulted in one of the loudest cheers of the night, outside of Vinny Lecavalier’s goal.
I still don’t think it was right to put the sports fans of Tampa Bay into a predicament where they had to choose between the two games, they should be able to watch both. And I still think the NHL should have stepped in and done the right thing. There are a lot of empty seats here tonight, although I’m sure it will be announced as an official sell out. But I can tell you, there’s plenty of blue seats that are open. And as I type this, I had to look up because another outbreak of unwarrented cheering as B.J. Upton hit his fourth home run of the playoffs to tie the game 3-3.
As far as the second period, it looked like Tampa Bay took their foot off the pedal just slightly. They did get a five-on-three power play goal by Vinny Lecavalier - his first of the year - and juding from the power behind that shot, I think Lecavalier’s shoulder is doing pretty good. That was a rocket shot.
But the parade to the penalty box caught up with the Lightning. Ryan Malone was called for consecutive penalties at 11:25 and 16:27 while Jamie Heward took a hooking call on Malone’s second penalty, giving the Hurricanes 1:02 of a two-man advantage. Jussi Jokinen took most of those minutes to kill it off and did an excellent job as Carolina was kept off the board and you could feel the momentum build off of it.
But then Matt Carle took a penalty with 22 seconds left in the period and you just knew that Carolina was going to make Tampa Bay pay. Sure enough, Rod Brind’Amour got a stick on a Joni Pitkanen shot with 8.7 seconds left to make it a 3-1 game.
And of note, Steven Stamkos has played only 2:57 of ice time tonight, most likely because of all the power play time the teams have combined for tonight. Stamkos took two shifts in the second period.
Posted by Thundertruck, Lakeland, FL on 10/12 at 04:18 PM
At least you let us all know how you really feel. Me, yes…I want the Rays to win…but when it the rubber hit the road..er…ice…what really matter to me is hockey. So, WHO CARES that the game didn’t start earlier so you could watch baseball? Boo hoo! I’m more upset that our Bolts look like hockeys version of the Bad News Bears!
Posted by Tim Halstead, Oldsmar on 10/12 at 03:05 PM
Everyone do me a favor name me all the players that were here last year from opening night. and when u realize its only 6 players, maybe you u realize that this team has been together for 1 MONTH!!! They might be bad at the beginning of the year. They will get better.and everyone that says are defense went when we traded boyle stop kidding yourself he wasnt that good defensively.
Posted by Mike Joyce, Bangkok, Thailand on 10/12 at 02:27 PM
Don’t let the door hit your butt on the way out quitter.
Who is saying woe is me? I have been going to the games every year since they started in the Thunder Dome and will continue, as I am a Bolt fan. Being a Bolt fan doesn’t make me a Kool Ade drinker and I can see the problems.
I think you are confusing effort with results. The result of a loss, even if in OT, is no better than the first two games. Also, the third period wasn’t any better than the six periods in Prague.
Bye Bye, enjoy yourself wherever you go.
Posted by LightningDogg, Leesburg,FL on 10/12 at 02:14 PM
Woe is me ...Woe is me…only 79 games left ...how are we EVER going to save the season??!!! No mention of how much we improved over the 1st two games. You whiners enjoy your misery, I’m going to go elsewhwere for intelligent discussion. EE I will continue to enjoy and appreciate your column.
GO LIGHTNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Dustin, Tampa on 10/12 at 12:03 PM
So just to say what everyone is thinking. Carle and Meszaros suck, good job trading good defensemen, Boyle, Kuba and Picard for ##### ones. Our D was never the problem it was never having an offense to keep a sustained attack in the opposite zone. Well this might come as a shock St. Louis probably won twice as many battles on the boards for the puck than the rest of the team go figure, this team needs heart, a lot of it.
Posted by Mike Joyce, Bangkok, Thailand on 10/12 at 02:51 AM
On the way back from the game, my wife, who is Thai and only seen a handful of gmes, told me that it looked like numbers 14 and 23 (she doesn’t know the names) looked like they didn’t know what they were doing. Whenever they got the puck they would just fling it up ice without looking where it might be going. She hit it right on the head, both were pathetic.
I should point out that at her first NHL game, a couple of years before the Cup, she commented that it looked like number 25 was the only one who knew what he was doing. She was very right there as well.
Posted by Michele, on 10/12 at 12:28 AM
They’re 0-2-1. I just felt like being nit-picky.
Posted by David, on 10/11 at 10:44 PM
We get it, Vickie, you hate Matt Carle. Do you have anything constructive to say?
You dislike Matt Carle for scoring a point, finishing even, getting off 3 shots (on a team that doesn’t shoot, no less) in 30 minutes of ice time in a losing effort?
He was by no means the worst player on the ice. But ok.
Posted by Tatianna Kesller, RTP, North Carolina on 10/11 at 10:39 PM
Mr.Erlendsson,your whining and complaining about people having to focus on two games is ridiculous. The Start time was the start time. Why cry about it? You sound like a petulant child who didn’t get his way. and it really makes you look unprofessional. The Lightning didn’t seem to have an answer after the Canes scored that 1st goal. Why isn’t Stamkos being used? It’s odd. The Canes Brandon Sutter was drafted last year, he’s a rookie, (2nd game) and he played 11+ minutes and he’s being brought along ‘slowly’. He was on the ice for the last two minutes killing that Samsonov penalty. Interesting that the #1 pick isn’t being used at all. Changes the Seen Stamkos meaning a little.
Posted by vickie, tampa on 10/11 at 10:19 PM
People People, I want to put my foot Matt Carle’s butt. i cannot stand him. He is useless and when Ranger comes back, should be sent to Norfolk. I seriously dislike this boy.
Posted by Mat Gedge, Tampa FL on 10/11 at 10:17 PM
Pathetic….defense looked like dogs chasing their tails. What the bleep was Krajicek doing out there tonight? A defense so easy a caveman could play it I guess…
Posted by Ruthe Robertson, St Pete on 10/11 at 09:43 PM
It just got worse. Andre Roy just scored for Calgary! Going to be a long season. Some things never change though, Brodeur has two wins, Ovechkin scored two tonight, and the Bolts blow a lead in the 3rd.
Posted by Billy Charlebois, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewn on 10/11 at 09:42 PM
Oh and three. Last place in the worst conference in the league. Tonight, they snatched a defeat from the jaws of victory. The “Big” line all in the minus column. The goalie couldn’t keep them in the game. Stupid penalties. Lousy defense. Could someone please explain to me what the “new look” of this team is exactly? Last year, they needed a premier goalie, a good defense, and a Coach that the players listened to. They have picked up right where they left off.
Posted by Chris C, Lakeland on 10/11 at 09:36 PM
They OVERSPENT and oversigned on offense, and traded away and cut payroll on a THIN defense..the big question over the summer was how would the defense be?
0-3
Posted by Jason H, Springfield, MO USA on 10/11 at 09:25 PM
0-3 to start the season. Way to go Melrose!
Where is the defense for this team? Oh thats right, it was traded to San Jose and already has an assist this season. Thanks Koules!
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Posted by Mike Joyce, Bangkok, Thailand on 10/12 at 07:04 PM
Tim,
I agree with you on both counts. Boyle was horrible defensively, and the Bolts will get better. Right now, they are being held together by the goalies.
I still think it was a wrong move to break up the MVP line to make Stamko look better. It could be done better by moving Recchi or Arty to that line. Malone just can’t keep up with Vinny and Marty. Then again, most people can’t. That’s why Prospal is so valuable, so why screw with what is working?