Okay.  Now that I've had about 24 hours to calm down and think about things a bit, I've come to this.

If I was Guy Boucher, I would think about scratching Steven Stamkos for Game 5 against the Penguins.

There.  I said it--well, sort of, it's actually typed.  But you get the point.

Yes, I would think about scratching him.  I think of it in three ways.  First, the Bolts aren't getting any production from him.  According to the NHL.com website, he's got a single point in four games, is -1, and has 2 PIM.  Clearly Blair Jones, Mattias Ritola, or even playing Marc-Andre Bergeron as a forward wouldn't do much worse in a single game.

Second, the scratching might actually benefit the boy.  If he's scratched, I'm sure he wouldn't be happy--but he'd be hungrier.  Just a couple of days ago, Boucher mentioned in the paper he wanted to make a point to Stamkos that being a Top 6 forward isn't automatic.  What better way to re-ignite desire is there?

Finally, watching the game from the press box would be a great way to get his slump off his mind should the Bolts return to SPTF on Monday in Game 6.  He's clearly thinking too much on the ice--see his whiff on the open net in the 3rd Period in Game 4 as Exhibit A.

Scratch Stamkos?  Yep, I said it.  But I think you may think it, too.