The mire; Tampa Bay Lightning versus New York Islanders preview
by John Fontana on Oct 20, 2011 12:46 PM EDT
in '11-'12 game previews
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WHERE: St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida
WHEN: 7:30 PM EDT | | TICKETS: Check Availability
MEDIA: Sun Sports (cable), 970 WFLA (radio)
OPPONENT COVERAGE: Lighthouse Hockey
It's been 13 days since the Tampa Bay lightning won in Carolina to open the season. It feels a lot longer than that, doesn't it? The opening salvo was the comeback effort in Raleigh, and then everything from there has gone downhill at one point or another.
The penalty kill, which had been a shut-down menace, has suddenly become a sieve. The power play, which lit up the Carolina Hurricanes twice on October 7th, has scored all of once since then. They are 3-for-23 on the season, a woeful 13% conversion rate.
The offense has sputtered, the defense has seemed confused. And goaltending... An interesting story, that. Mathieu Garon gets the start in goal tonight for the Lightning. This is on the heels of Dwayne Roloson's meltdown his previous two starts - in Uniondale on October 13th, and Monday at Times Palace where he gave up 7 goals on 33 shots.
Where Roloson has statistically struggled, Garon has shined. But the Bolts keep losing, not from the efforts in goal, but the team play in front of either netminder. Could Roloson, who is posting a league-worst 5.09 goals-against average and a near-the-bottom .858 save percentage, be better? Absolutely. But the Bolts could do well by improving their puck possession, limiting opponents shots, stopping with the careless penalties and ending their habitual turnovers.
...Because while Roloson's numbers have bottomed out, Garon's record (0-1-1) is just as mired in mediocrity with thanks
An issue popped up for #1 D-man Eric Brewer yesterday and he did not practice. An MRI was performed and... Well, there's not much info on that. He was back out on ice this morning and will play tonight versus the Islanders.
Matt Gilroy remains in on defense for the Bolts, Bruno Gervais sits. Gilroy is a +2, but is clearly still adjusting to the system as he is statistically at the bottom of just about every defensive category (hits, blocked shots, takeaways) He's averaging 14 minutes of ice time a night in his four starts this season.
Also out tonight for the Bolts are Ryan Shannon and Mattias Ritola. Blair Jones and Tom Pyatt start in their place. So remains the life of a roster with 14 forwards and competition to earn playing time.
The Bolts come into this game and could they seek redemption for the drubbing they suffered in Uniondale last week? You'd certainly hope so. John Tavares is near the top of the NHL in goals (5) and points (9) with thanks in part to the 2 goals and 2 assists scored during the aforementioned drubbing of the Lightning.
While Tavares has been hot (as have the Islanders,w ho are 3-1-0 so far this season), I must ask if anyone has Seen Stamkos lately? Steven has 4 points on the season, a far cry from past efforts. Yes, teams now expect him... But he was scoring in spite of that for much of his first 3 seasons in the league.
Game time is 7:30 PM. The Raw Charge open thread will come online at 7. If you're not going to the game, join us won't you?
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What you guys need...
is more ex-Islanders. What would it take to get Pavel Kubina in an Islander uniform?
Available Islanders:
Blake Comeau: But this will take additional swag
Mike Mottau: Other swag going your way
Mark Eaton: Other swag going your way
Mikko Koskinen: Send a doctor and an insurance agent to kick the tires
Ty Wishart: You know him, you love him… he’s Ty!
3rd-4th-5th round draft picks.
Make an offer. You automatically get cap space, and you could replace an expiring asset with some value. We desperately need short term mid range quality defensive help. Preferably BIG and Right Handed. Money is not a huge obstacle.
LighthouseHockey: We saw this coming!
@JPinVA
You can have him. All we want is a bag of pucks from yesterday’s practice. Since you’re offering, though, it would be rude to not take you up on your offer. All I would want is a 3rd and 4th rounder. The picks don’t even have to be in the same year.
"The Revolution will be complete when the language is perfect"
- Smith in Orwell's 1984
Really?
That bad?
When are you guys gonna fire up the Tesla?
LighthouseHockey: We saw this coming!
@JPinVA
Tesla: tonight, hopefully. Many, many times. :-D
Kubina: He’s slow and has a penchant for taking bad penalties at bad times. But even he has his fans.
"The Revolution will be complete when the language is perfect"
- Smith in Orwell's 1984
still not ready for tonight
that’s why we’re losing, you know. we’re waiting for the Tesla coils to be ready
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 20, 2011 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions
That's too bad...
I was hoping to see the first on air pacemaker explosion live… I guess I’ll see it on ON THE FLY when you guys play Ottawa at home.
LighthouseHockey: We saw this coming!
@JPinVA
I posted after Mondays game
that there was clearly something wrong with Brewer during the Panthers game. He was playing at half speed, avoiding contact, and having great difficulty clearing the puck out. Thanks goodness the MRI was negative, we can’t afford to lose him or Hedman.
The question shouldn’t even be asked if Connolly should stay as there are others who have contributed less. I think he really needs to be put on a steady line, go thru the growing pains and let it gel. I think it should also be the first line with Stammer and Marty. He has the skill set and just needs time. Keep Downie paired up with Moore. Regardless, it is going to be hard for any of our lines to generate some cohesiveness if we can’t stay out of the penalty box.
Game time is at 7:30pm.
Can someone please ensure the players bring their penalty discipline to the game, instead of leaving it in their cars?
Also, someone please tell the PK units to actually show up tonight, in case someone (yes, you, Downie and Moore) traded their discipline for extra stick tape and wax.
"The Revolution will be complete when the language is perfect"
- Smith in Orwell's 1984
Isles had a hot start last year too
they were tops in their division when they handed us that OT loss that was over two minutes before it was over. Hopefully tonight is the night they start to cool down. Because Lord knows we need a spark.
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 20, 2011 3:28 PM EDT reply actions
What’s the deal with Shannon? anyone know?
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.
Nope. Was wondering the same thing
Thought he was one of the few who played okay on Monday and past few games.
Let's GO.. Wings, TIGERS, Lions, Wolverines(Blue), Pistons & Bolts!!!!
by Let's JOE WINGS-BOLTS on Oct 20, 2011 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Ritola too. Hmmm?
Let's GO.. Wings, TIGERS, Lions, Wolverines(Blue), Pistons & Bolts!!!!
by Let's JOE WINGS-BOLTS on Oct 20, 2011 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Instead of citing Ritola being out, I’d be more on the fact who is still IN.
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Raw Charge.
by John Fontana on Oct 20, 2011 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions
It's a damn shame
That the Lightning couldn’t “Be the Lightning” on Monday… because we sure as hell made sure to “Be The Thunder” on Monday! We brought it, the feeling was there..until. What an awesome into and pre-game, even though it was sans coils(majorly disapointing) the organ and light show were just amazing! (saw plenty of people taking footage during the intro, so sure it can be found somewhere) I have some pics that I’ll post soon.
However, along with the interviews post monday I’ve seen, have to say… the boys know “whats up” ..to say the least. It doesn’t take a genious, letters or rocket science… to know that Tampa Bay Lightning players know the situation, especially when it comes to the fan’s expectations. You can rest asure, their own are much higher. Let’s be honest here.. we all knew this was a possibility. It’s happened to us before, not in quite the same fashion and plenty of other teams as well.
I didn’t jump ship then and I’m not going to start now.. especially with JM driving the boat!!
Let's GO.. Wings, TIGERS, Lions, Wolverines(Blue), Pistons & Bolts!!!!
by Let's JOE WINGS-BOLTS on Oct 20, 2011 5:35 PM EDT reply actions
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