This is Times Palace; Tampa Bay Lightning versus Florida Panthers preview

by John Fontana on Oct 17, 2011 10:51 AM EDT in '11-'12 game previews

The St. Pete Times Forum (above, in a file photo) doesn't quite look the same anymore...

WHERE: St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida
WHEN: 7:30 PM EDT | | TICKETS: Check Availability
MEDIA: Sun Sports (cable), 970 WFLA (radio)
OPPONENT COVERAGE: Litter Box Cats, On Frozen Pond

When it originally opened in the fall of 1996, the venue then-known as Ice Palace was one of the first parts of the very-much-under-development Channel District. There was no TECO streetcar, no Marriott Waterside Hotel, no Embassy Suites, there were no Towers at Channelside, Victory Lofts, Ventana, Grand Central, or other places of habitation in the district besides a few artists living in converted warehouess..

While the building mostly hadn't changed over it's lifespan, the area surrounding it within the Channel District has blossomed and taken on it's own distinct identity. 15 years after it originally opened, the venue re-dubbed the St. Pete Times Forum begins sporting a new identity all of it's own with today's home opener against the Florida Panthers. You've heard it over and over again that the Forum has been undergoing $40 Million in renovations.

Now, you get to see, feel it, and hear it all first hand.

After just about three weeks on the road - from pre-season through the start of the regular season - the Tampa Bay Lightning make their return to their revamped palace to begin a three-game homestand.

There is speculation that Jacob Markstrom, the Panthers rookie goaltender from Sweden, will make his NHL debut tonight. With the Cats playing back-to-back games (they play in Washington tomorrow), splitting the workload between Markstrom and Jose Theodore is probably the wiser choice than giving Theodore both starts.

As for the Lightning, as of this writing it's uncertain who will be starting in net tonight fo the Bolts. While Mathieu Garon has put up impressive numbers (a 2.28 GGA and a .938 save percentage), you cannot write off Dwayne Roloson from getting the start. Rolli has struggled, as the numbers show (4.34 GAA, a .883 save percentage), but so has the team in front of him.

Indeed, the Lightning have played a version of the Keystone Kops on defense as of late. Knowing that, I'm wondering if Guy Boucher should dress his seven defensemen and play only 11 forwards? Could it really hurt? Especially when the offensive contributions on Saturday night came from Marc-Andre Bergeron?

[Note by John Fontana, 10/17/11 12:03 PM EDT ] Dwayne Roloson will be betweent eh pipes for the Lightning, with Ryan Shannon and Teddy Purcell back in the lineup for the Bolts. Matt Gilroy remains int eh lineup with Bruno Gervais scratched.

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This came out about 3 minutes ago

@TBLightning Tampa Bay Lightning
Roloson and Gilroy in. Shannon and Purcell back in the line up. Jones, Pyatt and Gervais out.

R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Even bears must face this fact: we're nothing without Rinne.--Grizzledbear, 10/9/2011
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Oct 17, 2011 11:25 AM EDT reply actions

87.5% correct...

…fans will see about $35 million of the $40 million. The entrance, which will include a new ticket office, merchandise store, bars and a staircase won’t be done for a while. And since so many key areas pertaining to access into the building are still under construction, fans should try to get there early to minimize hassles and delays.

by Clark J Brooks on Oct 17, 2011 11:40 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Oh, and don’t forget the Platt Street Bridge is closed too.

by Clark J Brooks on Oct 17, 2011 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Glad to see Roli

back in there. He needs to get back on track and this is the game to do it. Garon has filled in nicely but is not a number one over the long haul.
I think Rittola has earned a third line spot so far and possibly 2nd if Purcell and Bugsy don’t step it up. The first line, while not scoring yet is looking better with Connolly in for Downie. Connolly can skate with Stammer and Marty and it’s just a matter of time before they start getting it together.
Likewise, Downie plays so much better on a line with Moore, and Rittola will take Bergenheims place with a tad more finesse. Watch the stupid penalties in the offensive zone ,Domenic !
Kubina needs to step it up on defense. He was horrible in the last game against the Panthers. It really might make more sense to split up Heddy and Brewer. Although I think they are trying to get Heddy to open up more offensively and rush the puck up. He clearly doesn’t yet grasp yet how good he can be at rushing the puck up. The kid can really stickhandle and skate for a big guy. All he lacks is some self confidence and a take charge attitude.
I look for the lightning to come back strong this week against Fla. and NYI. Buffalo will be more difficult but we should be rolling by Saturday.

by malapraxis on Oct 17, 2011 12:40 PM EDT reply actions

You’re spot on, Hedman and Brewer are killing our team this year. They are great players, but they are awful together. I for one am shocked Boucher hasn’t noticed this yet.

[IMG]http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a33/elimstuff/elimsigsimple-1.jpg[/IMG]

by Dustin Keene on Oct 17, 2011 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Actually Brewer’s the one guy I thought wasn’t bad.

R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Even bears must face this fact: we're nothing without Rinne.--Grizzledbear, 10/9/2011
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Oct 17, 2011 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I think that Brewer is easily the Lightning’s best consistent defenseman.

"You don't have enough talent to win on talent alone." -Herb Brooks

Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community. Follow me on Twitter: @dagmar27.

by Cassie McClellan on Oct 17, 2011 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions

meaning the best of the consistent defensemen (a very small pool) or the most consistent of all 7 defensemen?

R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Even bears must face this fact: we're nothing without Rinne.--Grizzledbear, 10/9/2011
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Oct 17, 2011 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Of all seven.

"You don't have enough talent to win on talent alone." -Herb Brooks

Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community. Follow me on Twitter: @dagmar27.

by Cassie McClellan on Oct 17, 2011 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions

counterpoint:

in the first three games, Hedman and Brewer were on the ice for ONE of the ten goals conceded.

Heel for school, Vol for life!

Bolts, Preds, Canes (childhood team, home state team, hometown team). Canes mini-STH. Southern hockey solidarity!

by Incipient_Senescence on Oct 17, 2011 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions

And then Hedman threw the puck into our own net. ;-)

R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Even bears must face this fact: we're nothing without Rinne.--Grizzledbear, 10/9/2011
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Oct 17, 2011 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't follow

I missed significant portions of the last two games for school and travel, respectively

Heel for school, Vol for life!

Bolts, Preds, Canes (childhood team, home state team, hometown team). Canes mini-STH. Southern hockey solidarity!

by Incipient_Senescence on Oct 17, 2011 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh well, take a look at this. It was the first goal of the night in the Isles game and may have jinxed us.

(I’m actually just being snarky. I know that it doesn’t mean that he’s a bad defenseman and that it happens to everyone at some point.)

R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Even bears must face this fact: we're nothing without Rinne.--Grizzledbear, 10/9/2011
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Oct 17, 2011 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions

ah

I was stuck in traffic when that happened. Showed up a minute and a half into the game and saw it was already 1-0, and it was all downhill from there.

But their performance the first three games encourages me that the last two can be improved upon

Heel for school, Vol for life!

Bolts, Preds, Canes (childhood team, home state team, hometown team). Canes mini-STH. Southern hockey solidarity!

by Incipient_Senescence on Oct 17, 2011 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Pressure

If the boys aren’t feeling pressure to at least win 2 of 3 in this first home stand, they damn well should be.

[IMG]http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a33/elimstuff/elimsigsimple-1.jpg[/IMG]

by Dustin Keene on Oct 17, 2011 3:31 PM EDT reply actions

From what I’m hearing Panthers side is Theodore will be in net tonight (I could be wrong) just what I’ve heard..

Dineen said he would start the hot goaltender (which would mean Theo) but also said he wanted Theo to start against his old team (washington) which really left us confused. But everything I’m hearing now is pointing to Theo in net tonight against you guys

by Rob PKane McMahon on Oct 17, 2011 3:42 PM EDT reply actions

George Richards @OnFrozenPond has confirmed Theodore.

R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Even bears must face this fact: we're nothing without Rinne.--Grizzledbear, 10/9/2011
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Oct 17, 2011 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Finally, the day has come!! I'll be there!!

Getting ready to head down to the “new” Forum now. Heading out early as advised. Can’t wait to break in the new season and the newish arena.

TIME TO BE THE THUNDER!!! LET’S GO BOLTS!!!!!!

Let's GO.. Wings, TIGERS, Lions, Wolverines(Blue), Pistons & Bolts!!!!

by Let's JOE WINGS-BOLTS on Oct 17, 2011 3:50 PM EDT reply actions

Roloson’s career stats vs the Panthers: 7-5-1, 2.57 GAA, .919 SV%, one shutout.

R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Even bears must face this fact: we're nothing without Rinne.--Grizzledbear, 10/9/2011
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Oct 17, 2011 4:52 PM EDT reply actions

Just wanted to thank the Bolts Faithful who made the journey cross-state in order to hang with us on Saturday night. An exceptional bunch who are welcome anytime :)

Thank you for taking a chance on us!

Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Oct 17, 2011 5:08 PM EDT reply actions