Tampa Bay Lightning versus New Jersey Devils preview
by John Fontana on Dec 12, 2011 4:56 PM EST
in '11-'12 game previews
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WHERE: St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida
WHEN:7 PM EST | | TICKETS: Check Availability
MEDIA: Versus / NBC Sports Net* (cable), 970 WFLA (radio)
OPPONENT COVERAGE: In Lou We Trust
*On January 2nd, Versus becomes NBC Sports Net. Yes, you will still want to mute telecasts. Just know now the stations name is changing.
The Lightning make a two-game stop at home before venturing out west before the holiday break. Tonight's opponent, the New Jersey Devils, compliments the recent tri-state area contests against the Islanders, Rangers and Flyers during last week's four stint in the northeast.
Dwayne Roloson will start in net for the Lightning. Roloson has struggled of late, his statistics reflect it quite easily: a 3.55 goals-against average, a .886 save percentage. Sometimes, vintage Roloson success will appear -- a shutout, a one-goal game... Other times, and all too often, it's been a drubbing that the Lightning have suffered with Roloson between the pipes.
At times, it would make no difference who the netminder was. Other times, however, you have felt lucky when Roloson was not starting in net (like Saturday's loss in Philadelphia). That's not trying to tar and feather Roloson, it is trying to publicly ask if the real Roloson will please stand up? The one who we want between the pipes, the one who helped propel the Bolts as far as they went last season?
This will be a short preview due to scheduling issues. Evan Oberg has once again been recalled by the Lightning. He was up with the club during the recent road spin, but played in no games. Why was he recalled? No sure. Pavel Kubina practiced with the team, taking contact once again. He's available to come off injured reserve.
There was an mystery injured defenseman on the recent road trip, which was why Evan had been recalled in the first place. Of course, Victor Hedman had also been hurt during Saturday's loss in Philly. There were no reports today that Victor was hobbled, slowed, sidelined or kept out of practice.
Perhaps Evan is being kept around for his charming personality? I couldn't tell you. We'll find out soon enough.
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Slightly OT, but anyone know anything about the Lightning signing Miettinen today?
"The Revolution will be complete when the language is perfect"
- Smith in Orwell's 1984
He still has to clear re-entry waivers, but ESPN is reporting that it’s a two-year deal. Still not sure about the money yet.
As for reaction, I think it’s a smart move by the Lightning. The Bolts have to give up nothing, and in return, your team will get a positionally sound player who can play on the PK. I know that Wild fans aren’t happy with Miettinen’s production, but most of them forget that he was put in a top-6 role without top-6 talent. He didn’t hold a gun to the coaches’ heads and force them to play him there.
He’ll be a good 3rd-line player to go along with Dominic Moore.
You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Regressing all the way back to high school hockey.
I read this as an attempt to bolster secondary scoring with a guy with some defensive capabilities without having to give up any kind of depth (as in a trade.)
Still would like a top-4 defenseman, but any actual help will be welcome.
R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
As long as you don't see Miettinen as a 1st liner, like the Wild inexplicably did, you should be satisfied
Wild fans like to be hard on him for being a HORRIBLE shooter, only getting 20 goals a year because he was playing with Koivu. The fact of the matter is, Miettinen is an excellent checking line player who was misused in Minnesota. He should be just fine in TB as long as he isn’t viewed or used as a replacement for Marty.
I'm that ''ignorant dumbass'' who writes with the ''whiny idiot homer'' over at Hockey Wilderness.
Twitter: BubbleWild48
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