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Erik Erlendsson
Erik Erlendsson covers the Tampa Bay Lightning for The Tampa Tribune.
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Second intermission vs. Carolina
Posted Jan 3, 2009 by Erik Erlendsson
Updated Jan 3, 2009 at 09:18 PM
Playing defense for the Lightning these days is liken to being in a hazardous situation. Andrej Meszaros is the latest to be hit - literally - when a deflected puck hit him on the side of his face. Fortunately for Meszaros, he was able to turn his head at the last second and didn’t take it flush on the frontof his face. No report yet, as it happened with 20 seconds left in the period, but there was quite a pool of blood on the ice that had to be scraped off by the ice crew.
Of course, Meszaros might not have been in that position had he not been whistled for a weak roughing call. After Tuomo Ruutu tried to send Meszaros flying into his own bench, Meszaros gave him a bit of a shove in the back, which was called roughing. Meanwhile, bodies can fly all around the front of the net, and nothing is called. This came on top of a call on Vladimir Mihalik, who was penalized for being 6-foot-7 when a Carolina player ran into Mihalik’s elbow. So of course, he was called for elbowing. Again, a weak call.
As far as the rest of the game, maybe Rick Tocchet needs to break up the MVP line because at least when Ryan Malone was on the top line, there was some offensive pressure from the other lines. Tonight, the MVP boys are the only ones doing anything in the offensive zone, and that’s just not good enough right now. They need better pressure if they are to get back into this game.
And I can’t recount off the top of my head the number of times Tampa Bay has seen a two-goal lead disappear, but I’m sure it would take more than one hand.
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Reader Comments
Por (berlin) on January 03, 2009 (Suggest removal)
PATHETIC everyone standing around getting outworked! This team has no guts.
Suggest removalPor (Bolt Fan) on January 04, 2009 (Suggest removal)
I agree with you about the lack of effort. Unfortunately, they can’t bring Lundin back up without losing him, so we have to play with very, very weak defensemen in his place. That, and the overall lack of effort by the CAPTAIN isn’t doing the team any good.
Suggest removalPor (matt) on January 04, 2009 (Suggest removal)
The overall lack of effort from 1 player is hurting this team? Are you that retarded? 1 player? Wow go back to watching golf or bowling bc you have no clue what its like to play or even watch a TEAM SPORT. The coach is the problem, not 1 player. This passive ##### d-system is the problem not 1 player. The horrible penalty kill and power play is the coaches fault not 1 player. The putrid defense is the problem, not 1 player. You people who want to blame #4 and who would even want him traded are just plain stupid. Go root for another team if you hate him that much bc I guarentee he’s not going anywhere.
Suggest removalPor (Ken Knaebel) on January 04, 2009 (Suggest removal)
They played a solid 10 minutes. That was it. I still don’t understand after playing a game for a good part of their lives that they forget the game is 60 minutes long. Dealing away 4 defense men for a return of only 2 defense men and signing an outrageous number of free agent forwards has been a major error by OK Hockey.
Get Malik of the ice. He’s doing more harm than helping.
Suggest removalPor (Jay) on January 04, 2009 (Suggest removal)
Bolts Fan from S. Pasadena sure sounds more and more like Mike Joyce from Bangkok Thailand. I thought he said that is where he draws the line and has had enough. Joyce just cannot shut up can he?
Suggest removalPor (tampafan) on January 04, 2009 (Suggest removal)
Glad to see Tocchet got on Smith for his crazy moves. He needs to just play goalie for awhile. With the young defense out there, they need a goalie to be just that—a goalie.
Suggest removalPor (Bolt Fan) on January 04, 2009 (Suggest removal)
Jay - I don’t know who you refer to, nor do I much care. I do believe that if you are going to take the biggest pay check and the most publicity, you should play all out on every shift. No excuses. If you are hurt, then don’t play. If you want to stand around and watch, then buy a ticket.
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