Five Hundred

It should be noted that the Lightning are 3-3 in their last six regular season games going back to 03-2004 where they lost two out of three of their final matchups (OTL to the Ottawa Senators, win vs. Florida Panthers, Loss to Atlanta Thrashers, Win vs. Carolina on opening night. loss to Florida on Friday and the win on Saturday Night).

That being said, Tom Jones best sums up the home-and-home series vs. the Panthers:

For those who skate under the Stanley Cup banner, there is no such thing as a night off. Nothing resembles a "gimme game." Every shift is a dog fight, every game a struggle. Even when the buzzer sounds, you can't be positive the game is over.

On Friday Night - well, let me be honest, Friday was my birthday and I didn't see as much of the game as I would have liked... Or most of the game for that matter. Roberto Luongo got the Shutout and John Grahame had the challenge of going Mano-y-Mano with the best goalie in the league right now - and stumbled by giving up a softy (by his own admission).

That was Friday. Saturday? Saturday was a different story as Fredrik Modin ended Luongo's season-opening shutout streak at 140 minutes. Martin St. Louis Capitalized on a 5-on-3 power play (Mr. Hart's first points of the season) and it was John Grahame's turn to play All-World goalie... His leg work alone preserving the win in the final seconds of the game.

....

On a very separate note I would like to make mention that Boltsmag might not be updated much int he coming week. I am headed out of town for a few days and will be back Saturday Night (hopefully in time to see the Lightning / Penguins matchup).