11/28 Lightning vs. Wild

[Jester47]

Stuff You Should Know:

Game Time: 2:00pm
TV: SUN (HD&CI), FS-N (HD)

Game Previews:
NHL (http://www.nhl.com/ice/preview.htm?id=2008020325), TSN Gameday, (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/scores/gameday/?id=2008112830) Yahoo! (http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/preview?gid=2008112830), TBO (http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/nov/27/lightning-notes-injuries-continue-mount/sports-lightning/)

[CTLightning26]

I have to say...Ryan Malone did pretty good in marraige :coolwink:

[bassassin]

Anyone have an online feed?

[Jester47]

and stupid turn overs are just the reason that Hutch was in Norfolk....

Let me guess, Hutch is in and Smaby is scratched???

[CTLightning26]

can we scratch Hutch and put in Smaby now?
geez, one turnover and he got beat twice in the first 12 minutes.
once Smitty bailed him out on a breakaway.
--
they seem to be skating well the first 12. hope it continues

[Dman21]

I appreciate the updates guys and gals. I am stuck at work and am unable to watch.

[CTLightning26]

Goal!!! PP
Vrbata deflects Stammer's shot

:happydance:

[Sotnos]

Interesting game so far.

[CTLightning26]

Goal!!!
Malone.

Rebound after a melee
how the heckl can the wild dispute that. no penalty called, the whistle didn't blow. what can they review?

[CTLightning26]

not sure why that's interference. He's going for the puck

[CTLightning26]

How can that be unassisted?

[WaiverWire]

Nice hustle by Vinny to go after that puck in the blue area. He disrupts the goalie and allows Malone to tap it in.

[CTLightning26]

if malone sees the puck earlier there, its 3-1
geez.
whoever took the last shot in there and vinny should get assists

[Kowalski]

It's pretty obvious that 85% of the offensive opportunities are coming from the 1st line. The other lines are basically out there to not screw up until the MVM line gets back out there.

[WaiverWire]

Must say that Downie sure brings some energy.

[CTLightning26]

It's pretty obvious that 85% of the offensive opportunities are coming from the 1st line. The other lines are basically out there to not screw up until the MVM line gets back out there.


Huh?

Downie had a breakaway and Vrbata-Stamkos-Prospal line has played well...The Jokinen line just had a good shift
Two good periods.. Lets hope they limit the mistakes in the 3rd. start with 33 seconds left on the PP

[pete]

Must say that Downie sure brings some energy.

He's a rolling ball of rusty barbed wire, no doubt.

[Sotnos]

how the heckl can the wild dispute that. no penalty called, the whistle didn't blow. what can they review?
I'm guessing they were complaining about Vinny interfering with the goalie, but once they showed a wider angle it looked to me like he was pushed in.

Anyway, it's nice to play a team that looks just as lost on offense as we do. :happydance:

[Kowalski]

Sure Downie brings energy, and Stamkos and his linemates are doing fine, but 85% of the legit scoring chances are being generated by Vinny and Marty.

[CTLightning26]

its gonna be like that most nights. you want it to be 60-65 percent instead of 85 though.

[CTLightning26]

ugh. screen shot. but smitty should have had that

[CTLightning26]

OMG, is that Kuba in Krajicek's jersey... crap. dont take yourself out of the fricken play!!!!!!!

[Flycoon]

I never comment on jerseys, but the Wild's look like an old lady's Christmas sweater. Just putrid.

[Jester47]

I think Hutch is now -3...

[pete]

Andrew Hutchinson, -3.

[WaiverWire]

this is going to be a big 5-3.....game is right here.

[The Great Zo]

this is gong to be a big 5-3.....game is right here.

Posts: 1,000

Congrats!

[Hoek]

God I hate Backstrom. I hate him out of respect for his game, but damn..

So glad we called up Hutchinson to LOSE this one for us. Where would we be without him? Oh yeah losing in the shootout instead. :rolleyes:

[WaiverWire]

Congrats!


Thanks....didn't notice till you posted.

4-2.......was a good game to watch.

[CTLightning26]

This is by far the most frustrating loss of the season..
I hope we aren't going to see more of this. play well, play well, play well...then make a mistake or two and lose by a goal..:mad:
i dont think i could take it

[Sotnos]

This is by far the most frustrating loss of the season.. This team is just killing me, especially that late 5 on 3. :banghead:

[Scobo_24]

wow, this is sooo disappointing. We play back to back really good games and we lose both. I hope we break out of this drought very soon and see some bounces go our way.

Stamkos line-B+- played very well
Vinny line- A- generated a lot of shots as well as a goal as usual

as for our new editions.... no comment:doh:

[dmitry]

I'm guessing they were complaining about Vinny interfering with the goalie, but once they showed a wider angle it looked to me like he was pushed in.

Anyway, it's nice to play a team that looks just as lost on offense as we do. :happydance:

The Wild announcers were complaining that the play should have been blown dead on the delayed penalty when the goalie swept the puck.

[aapbolt]

Like the MVM line big fast and very dangerous. 2nd line with Stammer and Vrbata needs help either Prospal or Recchi, and I actually like Recchi there, although Jussi might be ok. 3rd line...we need Halpern back asap. the 4th line of Downie/Hall/Craig showed energy and some jump going after the puck. I thought Downie at least played within himself and did not try and do anything stupid. R2...well he is BIG and makes room wish he had better hands.
Is it me or is Eminger playing well??? If kracijek is hurt pull him I would rather see Smaby knocking people down...Hutchinson..-3 enough said.
The 5 on 3 was pathetic, 5 shots all from the point and the goalie had a good view of all of them, no real movement and no crashing the net with no one bringing the puck in tight for a shot. when will these guys attack the puck carrier instead of backing off??? ARRGH. is there a line on how long Tocchet stays as coach?

[Sotnos]

The Wild announcers were complaining that the play should have been blown dead on the delayed penalty when the goalie swept the puck.That's kinda silly, he didn't really control it.


Is it me or is Eminger playing well???
I don't think it's just you, he's not spectacular but not the walking disaster Flyers fans claimed he was.

is there a line on how long Tocchet stays as coach?There's a limit on how many guys they want to pay to NOT coach IMO. To me they're showing progress, which is all that was aimed for going by the comments Koules made.

[pete]

I don't think it's just you, he's not spectacular but not the walking disaster Flyers fans claimed he was.

Starting to live up to his offensive potential many thought he had when he was drafted, too. If you pro-rate him out to 82 games, he's on pace for a very respectable 30 points. Now, that includes his games in Philly, when he didn't do very much offensively. He's obviously put up bigger numbers in Tampa (with more IT, especially on the PP) but the sample set is too small to really hang your hat on yet.

However, bear in mind the year we acquired Boyle that by the time the year was over we had a fairly good idea that he could blossom offensively, because he had 5 goals and 20 points in his first 41 games in Tampa, which obviously pro-rated out to a very good season (especially in the pre-lockout era). I'll be very interested to see where Eminger is at points-wise by his 41st or so game here, because he's already out to 1 goal and 6 points in 9 games. He could be a good one. He had a very high reputation coming out of junior. I remember some people thought he could be better than Bouwmeester.

[nutznboltz]

A little off topic, but will the current regime give Halpern a chance to show if he can repeat what he did for us after the trade deadline? Or is he considered a "Feaster-Torts guy" and will be on a short leash since he wasn't one of their own signees? :rolleyes:

[Hoek]

Considering the early vote of confidence Smith got, and the way Jokinen also found a way to stick to the roster, I think Halpern will get more than a fair shake. We sure could use his example out on the ice, as well as his voice in the locker room..

[pete]

Considering this team needs a faceoff man, I'm sure Halpern will be welcomed with open arms by Tocchet.

[timothy]

A little off topic, but will the current regime give Halpern a chance to show if he can repeat what he did for us after the trade deadline? Or is he considered a "Feaster-Torts guy" and will be on a short leash since he wasn't one of their own signees? :rolleyes:

The Richards trade was the first trade that the new ownership was involved in -- even before taking ownership of the team. Remember? Halpern, Smith, and Jokinen are OK guys.

[Evan]

Lightning have a serious passing problem that needs to be addressed. Every time there is an easy pass they seem to make a horrible pass and it gets turned over. If i was the coach all i'd practice for the next week is passing under pressure as the team still sucks at it. Even their powerplay passing is pathetic. Too much north and south because they know they are going to turn it over east and west, which is what a team has to do to score PP goals. Point shots only do so much.

[pete]

Remember? Halpern, Smith, and Jokinen are OK guys.

So was Carle. Point being, I don't think being an OK guy matters. They'll trade just about anything that isn't bolted down. What matters is whether the player brings utility to the team, and I think at a bare minimum Halpern gives this team the faceoff man they need to finally be able to send #77 to the glue factory where he belongs.

[CTLightning26]

A little off topic, but will the current regime give Halpern a chance to show if he can repeat what he did for us after the trade deadline? Or is he considered a "Feaster-Torts guy" and will be on a short leash since he wasn't one of their own signees? :rolleyes:

ummm. dont think so,,,i think they want to win

[Bolthed]

This team is trying to forge an identity as a physical team that also has plenty of offensive talent. But right now it is very frustrating to watch the transition into the physical stuff, quite possibly AT THE EXPENSE of the offense.

I hate to beat a dead horse, but this team still needs a lot of coaching. The power play looks completely unrehearsed, like it's drawn up by Vinny and Marty. The five-on-five play is starting to looke better because we are moving as a five-man unit more, but we still cannot possess the puck for very long and even when we do it's in the corners. We need to become dangerous. And ... our defense still gets hemmed in way too often for long periods of time.

We need coaching. I'm willing to give Tocchet some time, but really we are just crossing our fingers and hoping that he can do the job. OK/LB/BL are still expecting this team to come together and contend for a playoff spot, but I'm not sure they have enough time to grow into that kind of contender this season. We shall see ... and it oughta be intriguing to see.

[Puckhead]

"The 5 on 3 was pathetic, 5 shots all from the point and the goalie had a good view of all of them, no real movement and no crashing the net with no one bringing the puck in tight for a shot. "

AMEN!!!!!!!!
Re: 5 on 3--Anybody notice VL retreating to the blue line with the puck?? TWICE!! I know that gives a better lane to a pass down low, but good god...to keep 15' of separation between yourself and the defender on a 5 on 3, when you should be thinking a play TOWARD THE NET!!!!!!!!! Again, this fancy dan, long pass for a one-timer...I'm so sick of it........

[Jester47]

This team is trying to forge an identity as a physical team that also has plenty of offensive talent. But right now it is very frustrating to watch the transition into the physical stuff, quite possibly AT THE EXPENSE of the offense.

I hate to beat a dead horse, but this team still needs a lot of coaching. The power play looks completely unrehearsed, like it's drawn up by Vinny and Marty. The five-on-five play is starting to looke better because we are moving as a five-man unit more, but we still cannot possess the puck for very long and even when we do it's in the corners. We need to become dangerous. And ... our defense still gets hemmed in way too often for long periods of time.

We need coaching. I'm willing to give Tocchet some time, but really we are just crossing our fingers and hoping that he can do the job. OK/LB/BL are still expecting this team to come together and contend for a playoff spot, but I'm not sure they have enough time to grow into that kind of contender this season. We shall see ... and it oughta be intriguing to see.

Hey, he can't change the world over night... with the lack of coaching this team got from Melrose, RT has started waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay in the hole, it's gonna take him (or any coach) time to get this team back to zero and then really start making progress. Can this be done in time for us to make a run, who knows but we do seem to be moving in the right direction.

If we can average a point a game... no matter how we get them, it's still points.

[timothy]

So was Carle. Point being, I don't think being an OK guy matters.

True. But my response was to refute the statement made by another poster that Halpern is a Feaster-guy. The trade was made with Feaster still as GM and Davidson as owner, but OK was very much involved in the trade.

[nutznboltz]

One thing that might help us is it doesn't appear anyone in our division can/will run away with it, so if we can hang around and play .500 until after the 1st of the year before we start jelling, we might be able to go on a run and take the division title.

[Bolthed]

I want to say that Toc should focus on the fixing defense first, the special teams second and the offense last because that's the right way to build a team concept. But I really think that we have the pieces to be an offensive force (if 4 & 26 eventually start driving that train) ... and it should make things A LOT easier on our defense to have a more dangerous offense that can pressure the other team and possess the puck. That should also naturally spill over into the special teams, and - voila! - we'd be in bidness. But there is A LOT of work to be done. Our cycling needs new wrinkles, our two-man board work is terrible, our dump-and-chase is impotent, our passing everywhere (but especially in the neutral zone and in gaining entry into the offensive zone) needs CRITICAL attention. Ultimately I see the Lightning operating a VERY good aggressive forecheck system. But all of these parts have to be worked on to get there. And when they are - boy howdy! - lookout, because our size and ability to initiate a physical game could very well give our offense an edge that few teams have. I'm truly excited about the potential for such a talented group to play a physical and aggressive game, all while backstopped by an emerging No.1 goalie. Good stuff.

[aapbolt]

Bolthed, you forgot that being aggressive on the puckcarrier would be nice also. Geez, don't let the guy dance by you, lay a hit on him or go at him and go after the puck but this stick poke stuff is terrible and that is why Ramsey is no longer here.