Castaways; Lightning at Islanders preview

WHERE: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York
WHEN: 7 PM EST
MEDIA: Sun Sports (cable), 620 WDAE (radio)
OPPONENT COVERAGE:Lighthouse Hockey

It's already been brought up. Time and again. Again. And Again. And I'm bringing it up one more time for the sake of bringing it up one more time: One mans trash is another man's treasure, and one team's expendables is another teams stars.

This is the story of Nate Thompson and Sean Bergenheim,

Thompson, Bolts fans will recall, was picked up in January of 2010 off waivers from the Islanders. While Nate replaced a fan-favorite here at Raw Charge (James Wright), he stepped in and provided something the Bolts were lacking -- a solid defensive forwards. He's outright blossomed under Guy Boucher. While he's not in the goal-scoring mold, he is the prototype of what Boucher wants from his forwards.

Sean Bergenheim is another story all together. A free agent signing this summer, the Finnish forward has shown he has the potential for more, but his true potential as an offensive weapon only has recently become clear. Being paired up with captain Vincent Lecavalier and Simon Gagne.... Bergenheim has 2 goals in the past three games, and plenty of opportunities over that span as well.

Two former Islanders, two major parts of the Bolts. Thank you, Garth Snow.

The Islanders may be in last place in the conference but the Lightning are 1 and 1 against them. You recall that loss in October? The overtime affair when a goal was not reviewed until minutes after it happened? Or how about that win last month at the Coliseum? Steven Stamkos, Brett Clark, Martin St Louis and Thompson scored in the 4-2 win on that day.

It makes me wonder just which team is gong to show up tonight: The one that has won decisively the past 2 games, the one that only eke out a win, or the disjointed efforts of the recent past that had everyone in a panic?

The Islanders have yet to earn their 20th point of the season and are dead last in the NHL. Only the New Jersey Devils are anywhere near them in ineptitude in the standings. Edmonton? Calgary? The bottom-dwellers of the Western Conference are 11 and 13 points ahead of the Isles.

The Bolts have won four straight. This should be the fifth straight... And for the sake of the horse race in the Southeast, this needs to be the fifth straight.

Remember, there's a watch-party at Curtis Hixon Park tonight in Downtown Tampa. Click on the link for details.

Other Previews

Tampa Bay Lightning official team preview

Bolts 2 Cup

Full game coverage on SB Nation