Bradmaster; Tampa Bay Lightning versus New York Rangers preview
by John Fontana on Dec 3, 2011 12:28 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: Sun Sports (cable),
OPPONENT COVERAGE:Blueshirt Banter
There is a new truth to games in the Eastern Conference that the Lightning need to adjust to, and that's the fact Brad Richards will be playing against them four times a season, not counting the playoffs, for a long time to come.
You do remember Brad Richards, don't you? Drafted in 1998 by the Lightning (along with some guy named Lecavalier), Richards made his NHL debut in 2000 and was runner-up for the Calder (rookie of the year) to Evgeny Nabokov. He would go on to help the Lightning franchise turn itself around and become Stanley Cup Champions in 2004.
But Brad departed via trade in 2008 (lets not even get into that debacle. Bloggers may write in their underwear according to Jay Feaster, but Jay scouts goaltending about as well as Helen Keller). He did have the opportunity to return to Tampa via free agency this past summer, but he took the money and ran to New York instead.
Yes, Brad Richards is a Ranger now. Brad is back with John Tortorella, former Bolts head coach.. Oh, and lets not forget our old pal Ruslan Fedotenko is also playing with Brad too.
Whoever the company at Times Palace is tonight, there's a game to be had. All friendliness aside, the Bolts are in need of two-points as a very difficult stretch of the schedule begins.
A merry-go-round of players scratched and players starting takes a new turn tonight. Adam Hall will sit as Ryan Shannon is back in the lineup. Hall isn't flashy but he is consistent and has been one of the Bolts top defensive forwards. His blue-collar work is not flashy: Hall is minus-3 with two points scored in 24 games this season. Bruno Gervais also sits, again.
Martin St. Louis is 2 points shy of 800 for his career. A lively night at Times Palace could put him over the top.
Mathieu Garon gets the start in net for the Lightning.
The Rangers are hot right now, winners of their past four. It's not always pretty but they are finding ways to win. That's important for any team contending for the playoffs. They are three points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the Atlantic Division lead. That's seven points in front of the Lightning in the conference standings.
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Lightning equipment sale, too, for anyone with a game ticket.
I’m not going tonight (have to take Mrs. MTBoltFan to the airport), and would have loved to pick up some old gear.
If anyone wants to buy me a pair of gloves or a pair of skates on the cheap, I wear size 12 and size 9.5 (respectively). :-)
"The Revolution will be complete when the language is perfect"
- Smith in Orwell's 1984
I'm very surprised at Hall sitting.
Very, very surprised. He wins faceoffs, for one thing.
R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Part Predator, part Lightning.
"Breathe deep. Think of smiley puppies"--@FakeLindback
I think this is a sign that something has to give… 13 forwards, 7 D-men… And yet Yzerman knows the depth on this team is less than it was last season. Boucher has gotten to play his 11/7 roster split all of once this season.
If the team was winning, it wouldn’t be an issue. But it’s mired in inconsistency. There’s room for improvement.
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Raw Charge.
Gervais also sitting, so still only have 6 d-men tonight?
R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Part Predator, part Lightning.
"Breathe deep. Think of smiley puppies"--@FakeLindback
Agree
Adam Hall is a faceoff shark
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 Dec 3, 2011 1:13 PM EST up reply actions
Woke up with a good feeling today. I feel like the Lightning are going to put a little winning streak together. Of course, I also thought Jimmy Wright would find his way back on the roster at some point….
"Chico's on the ice. Chico will take care of you". --Enrico Ciccone.
by Lightningfan7609 on Dec 3, 2011 1:13 PM EST reply actions
In need of a prediction...
4-3 in overtime but I can not tell who..
All kidding aside, I am very very surprised to see Hally take a seat. He doesn’t put up points but we all know he prevents them to the best of his abilities. The 11/7 roster worked very effective last season. Boucher can mix up the lines and confuse the opposition, and lets us put MAB on the power play without leaving him out there for most of the defensive responsibilities.
I will say MAB is getting better defensively, his break out passes last year were pretty umm.. well they were bad. He’s playing more physical now and I voted for him in the All Star ballot! ;)
GO BOLTS!
If #26 doesn't get retired. I'm switching teams.
Anybody else miss the Downie-Moore-Bergenheim line? :( That was the depth.
If #26 doesn't get retired. I'm switching teams.
for real
although the Shannon-Moore-Connolly line has potential
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 Dec 4, 2011 12:51 PM EST up reply actions
Good luck to you guys (but not too much good luck… you know what I mean).
May the team that plays the best win!
Hopefully it will be an overtime win so both teams get some points out of it and everyone is happy or at least the worst someone can feel is disappointed instead of furious.
@DigDeepNYR
"I like a man who grins when he fights." -Sir Winston Churchill
"It's just pain." -Brandon Prust | "In Prust we Trust."
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