3/25 Lightning vs. Panthers

[Jester47]

Stuff You Should Know: Puck Drops at 7:30 pm, TV - SunSports (HD), FSN-F (HD), CI Feed - SUN


Game Previews:
TBL/NHL
TSN

T - 7 and counting...

[chad]

I guess Gratton is supposed to be in the booth for the second period on SSN.

I have to make sure my DVR doesn't pick up the Panthers broadcast. Couldn't take Denis Potvin for another second.

[jaydeedub]

Originally Posted by chad

I have to make sure my DVR doesn't pick up the Panthers broadcast. Couldn't take Denis Potvin for another second.

Yes but you might miss one of their amazing features like the one on their ice girl "Barbie." Emmy type stuff.

Go Stamkos!

[CupChamps2004]

Per Trib - Smith out with left knee injury. Boutin up. Denis on re-entry.

[astro]

Originally Posted by CupChamps2004

Per Trib - Smith out with left knee injury. Boutin up. Denis on re-entry.

what happened to Ramo? We need three goalies?

[Donnie D]

Originally Posted by astro

what happened to Ramo? We need three goalies?

Ramo starts. Boutin is an emergency call up. Denis is going thought waivers and I would imagine Boutin goes back down tomorrow.

[bassassin]

Any chance we get to see what Boutin can do in goal?
As you said he will go back down tomorrow, but he cant be much worse than Denis and when will he ever get a chance like this again as the management seem to like almost every goalie in the system more than him.

I know he may not stand up to it but worth a look?

[jaydeedub]

Originally Posted by CupChamps2004

Per Trib - Smith out with left knee injury. Boutin up. Denis on re-entry.

Per Times - Halpern will decide if he can play before the game.

It's nuts that Halpern is pegged to be a 3rd line guy, but when he's with his line (Ouellet & Darche) that line is worlds different from when they have the 4th line center of MacDonald between them. Guess what I'm saying is he's a heck of a 3rd line center.

[chad]

Just to show more divide between the GM and Coach (in addition to the tandem/no tandem for next year)... when Gratton was acquired for a second rounder JF mentioned they wanted more balance and the 3rd line would provide offense.

Whether it be Torts exhausting the 1st line or Gratton putting marks on the wall of the penalty box, it never happened.

A 3rd line that has earned his trust - such as Darche-Halpern-Ouellet - combined with two second liners and Jokinen and an acquired winger on the first line - could definitely put this team back in the playoff picture.

[jaydeedub]

Originally Posted by chad

A 3rd line that has earned his trust - such as Darche-Halpern-Ouellet - combined with two second liners and Jokinen and an acquired winger on the first line - could definitely put this team back in the playoff picture.

That's the Good scenario.
The Bad scenario being Jokinen stays on the #1 line, and the Halpern line becomes the #2 line.
Don't even want to think what the Ugly scenario looks like. Koules saws it all up?
But surely even with where the team salary is currently at for next season (which is around 33 million) they can get some upgrades for the 1st and 2nd lines even if the team cap had to stay where it was at. Guess this would be the Ugly scenario. The team cap level doesn't move.