A tale of firsts: Lightning host Islanders (preview)

by John Fontana on Oct 21, 2010 11:12 AM EDT in Game Previews

WHERE: St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida
WHEN: 7:30 PM EDT
MEDIA: Sun Sports (Cable), 620 WDAE (radio)
OPPONENT COVERAGE: Lighthouse Hockey

If someone told you last season that you would see a battle between first-place Tampa Bay and a first-place Islanders team in 2010, I'm guessing laughter might be the response you would have given. The two franchises have seemingly courted nothing but trouble over the last several years.... wallowing in the depths of the NHL standings and racking up high draft picks here and there.

Yet, in the early going of the 2010-11 campaign, we get to see that first-place showdown tonight at Times Palace as the Bolts host the Isles.

Two players are making their first starts against their former teams tonight. Sean Bergenheim signed with Tampa Bay this summer after spending parts of five seasons with the Isles...

And Zeke comes home for the first time tonight.

Fan favorite Zenon Konopka, who won people over for his fearlessness and willingness to drop the gloves (but not his inability to throw a decent pitch), signed with the Islanders during the off-season. Zeke was not considered a part of Steve Yzerman's plans in Tampa and was allowed to walk, much to the chagrin of Bolts faithful (and those who think an enforcer-type is a must have).

Konopka has yet to score a point this season, while averaging about 10:30 in ice time a game while playing on the Islanders fourth line. His 17 penalties-in-minutes is tied for 17th in the league with a swarm of others.

Yet here's a question for Lightning fans who are still upset at the loss of Zeke: would he have fit in to what you are seeing now in the Guy Boucher system? Short shifts of constant attacks, where speed is a mandate and ability to be versatile is essential? Let your thoughts on that be known in comments.

After Monday's win against the Stars, the Lightning are near the top in the league in power play percentage (2nd, 33.3% conversion rate) and penalty kill (tied for 4th, 90.9% kill-rate, 2 goals allowed in 22 short-handed situations). Those percentages will likely swing higher or lower wildly as the league gets more games under their belt... But from what we are seeing now, both special-team units are playing much stronger hockey than we'd seen in the recent past.

The Isles are no pushover on the power play either, they are tied for 5th in the league with a 25% conversion rate. On the penalty kill? They drop to 22nd in the league with an 80% kill-rate (6 goals allowed on 30 opportunities).

Game thread opens at 7 PM here at Raw Charge.

Other Previews

Tampa Bay Lightning official team preview

L ighthouse Hockey

Bolts 2 Cup

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Comments

Jeepers Keepers

Our team is a first place team minus our keeper… Smith was a bad choice to be our goalie and we never should had let Richards go for basically an upgraded copy of John Graham.

We need another Habby if we are going to maintain #1 status through out the long NHL season.

by Kevin Floyd on Oct 21, 2010 11:36 AM EDT reply actions

At the time, we didn't know that is what he'd end up.

People are quick to forget this is the same guy that led the league at the start of his first full season in Tampa in save percentage before succumbing to another concussion. Sadly, he doesn’t look as if he will return to form anytime soon.

by BrokeBearMountain on Oct 21, 2010 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Zeke :(

Hope he doesn’t fight tonight! I think he’ll share a lot of love to former team mates, but at the same tim, keeping an edg. After all the lightning were truly the team that got his career started.

by Killhowe on Oct 21, 2010 12:19 PM EDT reply actions

No room for Zeke

I can’t see who he’d be playing over. Thompson is faster and great on the PK. Adam Hall has a much better offensive upside and plays on the PK. Tyrell has way more speed and makes things happen. Good luck on the Island Zeke and don’t start any fights tonight.

Don in St Pete

by Don in St Pete on Oct 21, 2010 1:13 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed.

If you’re a Zeke fan, you should realize his best hope for being in the NHL this season was somewhere else. He wasn’t going to be playing in Tampa under Boucher’s system.

I doubt he harbors any resentment towards the team that was the first organization to give him a legitimate chance to show what he had at the NHL level.

"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."

"But How will I know limits from lies, if I never try."

by geoffissiffoeg on Oct 21, 2010 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Let's beat those Islanders!

"1 - 2 - Freddy's coming for you, 3 - 4 - Better lock your door, 5 - 6 - Grab your crucifix, 7 - 8 - Better stay up late, 9 - 10 - Never sleep again..."

by Gatorbuc15 on Oct 21, 2010 2:38 PM EDT reply actions