only 2 out of three is bad

by John Fontana on Apr 21, 2006 9:46 PM EDT in Game Previews

2 periods do not a game make.

Two periods of solid play, 29 shots and one goal does not a game make.

Two periods of swagger does not justify a team to get complacent, and yet the Lightning didn't believe this to be true.

Four unanswered goals in the third period by the Senators seal another collapse of the Lightning... And even the Lightning's sole offense is reason to worry -- it was a goal scored on a Five-On-Three Power Play.

For two periods, you were led to believe the Lightning could heighten their game -- because they did. They played sound defense, they threatened on offense and they looked like a team worthy of being in the playoffs...

One power play goal by the Senators early in the third undid that, and you'd think that the Bolts were made up of rookies -- not Stanley Cup winners. One goal leads to another, which leads to a defensive lapse on the power play and a short handed goal to make that hole three... Add the customary empty-net (during a six-on-four power play, no less!) and the Lightning went from looking like contenders to pretenders in less than 18 minutes.

4-1 the final from Scotiabank Place. Vincent Lecavalier has the lone goal for the Lightning while Havlat, Spezza, Fischer and Alfredsson score for the Senators.

Game 2 is Sunday at 6.

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Comments

Three goals in four minutes = loss.

by Gary on Apr 21, 2006 10:34 PM EDT reply actions

Never underestimate the heart of a champion! Ottawa can be beaten – all we need to do is take a look at the tapes from the past few years of Toronto v. Ottawa Series – The Leafs literally beat up Ottawa in order to win these series – I think the Bolts are capable of doing that – GO BOLTS!

by Rohit on Apr 22, 2006 2:17 AM EDT reply actions

The Sens outmuscled even the Leafs this year…. good luck trying to play the hard-checking card against them. A look at the team hit leaders should say it all:

Zdeno Chara (224), Chris Neil (221) and Anton Volchenko (139) are the Senators’ leading hitters.

Evgeny Artyukhin (138) and Ruslan Fedotenko (81) are the Lightning’s leading hitters.

(source: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?fid=3325&hubname=nhl )

It’ll be an exciting series to be sure…. Tampa is my second-favorite team and I’ve always loved watching them play, however I think the Sens can take them in 5.

by Andrew on Apr 22, 2006 9:59 AM EDT reply actions

Take your second favorite team crap and get lost. We don’t need ya. If bolts follow up some shots and get to some rebounds then sens would have been done. Emery is not leading them anywhere, just got lucky to face swiss chesse goalie like Big Bad John. Let’s hope Burke get’s the start sunday. The series is long way from over. But the next game will go long way in showing if the bolts can out skate the sens for 60 min. instead of 40.

by adam on Apr 22, 2006 10:45 AM EDT reply actions

NHL Playoff Roundup…

Ottawa 4 Tampa Bay 1: With Dominik Hasek looking on, Ottawa starting goalie Ray Emery stopped 35 shots and kept……

by Off Wing Opinion on Apr 22, 2006 1:55 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t want continued hostilities on threads (that goes for you Adam). Andrew is a respected member of the blogosphere and doesn’t deserve to be crapped on.

by John F. on Apr 23, 2006 3:36 PM EDT reply actions