ECQ: Tampa Bay Lightning at New Jersey Devils (Game 5) Open Thread

by John Fontana on Apr 20, 2007 6:42 PM EDT in Game Threads

Well, after the I told you so of game #4....

The pressure is on to put another nail in the coffin — but when the pressure has been on for the Bolts to perform, they’ve faultered.

...I'm wondering if Marty is being pompous?:

Still, he was the 2004 regular-season MVP, so it was notable when St. Louis said, "I agree," when someone mentioned they believed his overall game is better than his Hart Trophy season.

"I have more experience, more maturity," St. Louis, 31, said. "I know the level I have to go to in the playoffs to help the team win."

He backs it up on ice but still -- these aren't always the types of stories you want to hear going into a clutch game.

...and if the Lightning will continue their in-season trend and drop another crucial game when things still are open season? We find out tonight...

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OK, so I was busy with work stuff Wednesday.

Tonite, this game is my job.

Let’s go.

by Hinch on Apr 20, 2007 7:04 PM EDT reply actions

not looking good to start, hook on NJ. PP for the BOlts

by John F. on Apr 20, 2007 7:14 PM EDT reply actions

Hola, gentlemen. Hope we can pull one out tonight…

by Gary on Apr 20, 2007 7:18 PM EDT reply actions

Hi Gary. I’m keepign a friend at work posted so I will not be as involved as usual. I am around though.

by John F. on Apr 20, 2007 7:21 PM EDT reply actions

Lucky that Ranger isn’t going along w/ Perrin for tripping. This isn’t good.

by Gary on Apr 20, 2007 7:23 PM EDT reply actions

Craig just misses sh. Save brodeur

by John F. on Apr 20, 2007 7:25 PM EDT reply actions

Damn. Nice kill, and Party Marty could have buried that if he didn’t get so much ice on the shot.

by Gary on Apr 20, 2007 7:26 PM EDT reply actions

Mishkin had said Craig was tripped on that 2 on 2 SH effort… I call bullshit (yes, you can use color here Gary ;) ).

by John F. on Apr 20, 2007 7:29 PM EDT reply actions

Ward w/ Prospal & Lecavalier. Does that mean Marty’s on the ice with Brad?

by Gary on Apr 20, 2007 7:30 PM EDT reply actions

Sheeeeeeeit. 1-0.

by Gary on Apr 20, 2007 7:31 PM EDT reply actions

Goddamn. Another freakin’ Lightning penalty?!

by Gary on Apr 20, 2007 7:34 PM EDT reply actions

Still don’t have a feel for how things are going. Seems pretty even the score notwithstanding. But I do see a little more pop to passes and stuff.

by Hinch on Apr 20, 2007 7:34 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t think the lightning are clicking. Top lines are being shuffled and reshuffled… They know Vinny and Marty, they know Brad adn Ward but Torts can’t figure out third wings to cinch the deal and add an extra spark.

by John F. on Apr 20, 2007 7:45 PM EDT reply actions

Well… we all know that powerplays aren’t the Lightning’s strong suit; seems to me they get better scoring chances when they’re shorthanded. But that’s too big a risk. What they need to do is skate fast, put the shoulder into that guy wearing red along the boards, and not take penalties.

by Gary on Apr 20, 2007 7:47 PM EDT reply actions

Finishing checks is imperative. NOt just finishing the checks but makign SOLID CONTACT. Have you seen how many partial checks are going on or just weak hits?

We’v ehad more solid collisionns among our own players than between Lightning and Devils players.

by John F. on Apr 20, 2007 7:50 PM EDT reply actions

True dat, JF.

by Gary on Apr 20, 2007 7:52 PM EDT reply actions

Did anyone catch Taransky run into the boards, face first in the Devils end? Looked like he missed a check and he just rammed himself face first into the upper boards near the Lightning’s bench.

Most ridiculous thing I think I have ever seen in hockey. No offense to Nick

by John F. on Apr 20, 2007 8:10 PM EDT reply actions

Sorry, I missed that.

I’m simultaneously playing Desktop Tower Defense and watching the game.

by Gary on Apr 20, 2007 8:15 PM EDT reply actions

Shit. 2-0.

by Gary on Apr 20, 2007 8:16 PM EDT reply actions

I realize this isn’t breaking news… but damn do Pratt and Sarich suck on defense.

by Gary on Apr 20, 2007 8:23 PM EDT reply actions

Holy moly. Brodeur’s poke check on Party Marty kept this a 2-0 game.

by Gary on Apr 20, 2007 8:25 PM EDT reply actions

My mom called, and I was on the phone with her when the Devils scored the second goal…I still had the TV on, on mute. It took a few minutes to explain the sudden “GODDAMMIT!!!” to her.

LOL! Desktop Tower Defense! What a time sink!

by Hinch on Apr 20, 2007 8:25 PM EDT reply actions

Brodeur is killing us.

by tiny... on Apr 20, 2007 8:26 PM EDT reply actions

Finally a Devils penalty

by John F. on Apr 20, 2007 8:29 PM EDT reply actions

Hinch: I’m finally dialing in my mazes on DTD. I’ve totally mastered the 7 typhoon towers and 2 storm towers, but now it’s just tweaking the placement.

You’re right. Huge time sink! :)

by Gary on Apr 20, 2007 8:30 PM EDT reply actions

Damnit.

by Gary on Apr 20, 2007 8:32 PM EDT reply actions

BS call.

by Hinch on Apr 20, 2007 8:32 PM EDT reply actions

I’ve done desktop tower defense and I have tried just placing tons of ice (water?) and fire towers… no luck :p

I hate NHL refs and I am frustrated by Colin Campbell still having a job.

by John F. on Apr 20, 2007 8:37 PM EDT reply actions

5890 with 20 lives left on the DTD. Now… if only I can break 6k.

Oh… and if only the Bolts can score three in the third. They’re pissing me off tonight.

by Gary on Apr 20, 2007 8:38 PM EDT reply actions

JF: I dunno which DTD you’re talking about, but the one I’ve been obsessed with for the past couple of weeks is this one:

http://www.handdrawngames.com/DesktopTD/

by Gary on Apr 20, 2007 8:39 PM EDT reply actions

Oh, BTW, don’t click that link. You will never get those hours, days, weeks of your life back.

by Gary on Apr 20, 2007 8:40 PM EDT reply actions

gary — the one I have been playing is on Ebaums world… dunno if this isn’t the same one.

by John F. on Apr 20, 2007 8:42 PM EDT reply actions

JF: I just checked out that one (ebaums). That’s a helluva lot more confusing than the handdrawngames one. You’ll probably get a better game-playing experience.

by Gary on Apr 20, 2007 8:51 PM EDT reply actions

OK enough of the DTD bull.

Period Three. Less talking in the comments… more watching of the televisions.

by Gary on Apr 20, 2007 8:53 PM EDT reply actions

Too much thinking and/or trying to be fancy.

Not enough “throw it in there and hope for a re”.

by Gary on Apr 20, 2007 9:00 PM EDT reply actions

JFC, can Kuba buy a shot on net?

by Gary on Apr 20, 2007 9:03 PM EDT reply actions

This shit is not encouraging.

by Gary on Apr 20, 2007 9:04 PM EDT reply actions

Are you guys off playing DTD now? ;)

by Gary on Apr 20, 2007 9:04 PM EDT reply actions

14+ scoring chances for the Lightning so far.

Brodeur is on his game tonight and the Lightning aren’t on theirs. Simple as that.

by John F. on Apr 20, 2007 9:07 PM EDT reply actions

To quote a wise man:

“The Lightning aren’t on their game tonight. Simple as that.”

by Gary on Apr 20, 2007 9:12 PM EDT reply actions

Nah, I’m here. Not liking what I see, tho.

by Hinch on Apr 20, 2007 9:13 PM EDT reply actions

I turned it off.

Gary? You still getting the CBC feed? My buddy in Calgary is sorta making me a little paranoid about a fix being in. He said that the potential Rangers/Devils ECF is what they’ve been focusing on

by John F. on Apr 20, 2007 9:16 PM EDT reply actions

So Vinny’s shot rang the hell out of that post, and the NJ announcers say, “Lecavalier’s shot may have hit the post” two seconds later.

Those announcers suck.

by Gary on Apr 20, 2007 9:17 PM EDT reply actions

signed and sealed.

by John F. on Apr 20, 2007 9:22 PM EDT reply actions

Insert the f-word in this space as many times as you wish.

I can’t believe dickhead Brodeur got a shutout tonight.

I’m done for the night.

by Gary on Apr 20, 2007 9:23 PM EDT reply actions

Night.

Shit.

by Hinch on Apr 20, 2007 9:25 PM EDT reply actions

they were slo-mo thru the middle and thus late to forecheck. Thought they had this trap figured out. Hustle! Hustle! Hustle! Check! Check! Check!
I did see one thing I liked and that was the D standing up in the neutral zone a few times as well as on the blue line once or twice. They have to get them thinking when they cross the blue line that they might get hammered. I can’t stand when we let them walk in even strength AND when were one up on their rush.

I don’t hear that fat chick yet.

by tiny... on Apr 20, 2007 9:38 PM EDT reply actions