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Playoffs without the playoffs; Tampa Bay Lightning host Boston Bruins (preview)

WHERE:  St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida
WHEN: 7:30 PM EST
MEDIA: Sun Sports (cable), 620 WDAE (radio)
OPPONENT COVERAGEStanley Cup of Chowder

The tight race continues in the Eastern Conference.  The Bolts found themselves seeded 6th in the playoff chase after Tuesday's victory against Vancouver.  And now, all of two-days later, they are on the cusp of being bounced from playoff seeding in general.

Though we're still in the middle of the season, and on the verge of a two week Olympic break, what we're all witnessing now amounts to playoff caliber hockey.  These final three games pre-Olympic break will all be against teams vying for a shot at the playoffs.  

And tonight, there is no bigger weight on the Lightning than earning two points against the Boston Bruins, who are seeded ninth.  Should the Bolts lose in regulation, they wuld be losign the 8th seed they currently hold to these very Bruins.

Star-divide

One of the biggest stories for the Bolts during their current hot streak (7-0-1 in last eight) is alsoa  potential problem.  No, no, no, I'm not getting on Antero Niittymaki and his play in net (which was praised in the St. Pete Times today).  Actually it was the blessing / curse of Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis.  While the Bolts need and want as much offense production from the duo as possible, they also need production from the other ten forwards that the team dresses every given night.

The point is that the Lightning need to spread the scoring responsibility around.  Hitting posts (which has been all too common as of late) does not qualify as anything more than a missed opportunity and a blown chance.

Speaking of Stamkos, Puck Daddy's got a good article today stressing the point Stamkos wasn't snubbed an Olympic spot.  Oh, and to compliment that, Martin Fennelly at the Trib blasts Team Canada for Martin St. Louis being left off the roster.

The Bruins are currently boasting the league's second-best penalty kill unit, snuffing out 86.4% of opposing opportunities.  That is a strong potential foil to the Bolts strength of playing with a man-advantage, where they are currently conveting 19.2 percent of chances. 

 


 

Other Previews

Tampa Bay Lightning official team preview

Loving the Lightning

Tampa Bay Lightning Examiner

TSN

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Looking forward to finding out who Stammer’s Sweethearts are!

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Feb 11, 2010 3:54 PM EST reply actions  

Do people talk lighting during games here? I’ll be around during the game for reasonable banter if anyone does.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Feb 11, 2010 4:56 PM EST up reply actions  

Talk hockey indeed

The game threads do end up moving off topic at times, or sideshow, but there is plenty of conversation that goes around about the game.

9:12. Lights out. Raw Charge.

by John Fontana on Feb 11, 2010 6:05 PM EST up reply actions  

"at times"?

LOL..yeah, that’s one way to put it….

But stop by and chat folks. We have a blast! (and sometimes we talk hockey too!)

I have come to a conclusion... Martin St Louis = waterbug on meth...

by Tina Robinson on Feb 11, 2010 6:47 PM EST up reply actions  

We have some fun on the game threads. And the more the merrier!

"...And he's only NINETEEN!!!"

Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community.

by Cassie McClellan on Feb 11, 2010 6:16 PM EST up reply actions  

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