Lightning return to Tampa, welcomed as heroes
by Clark J Brooks on May 28, 2011 5:57 PM EDT
in Playoffs
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The Tampa Bay Lightning's season ended Friday night with a 1-0 loss to the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals Friday night. But you woudn't have known that was the outcome if you'd been at Tampa International Airport this afternoon when the team's flight arrived.
Several hundred fans, decked out in Lightning blue, clucthing signs and chanting "Thank you Lightning" were on hand to greet the team as conquering heroes. In a show of mutual appreciation, players got out of their cars and walked along the exit route, shaking hands and posing for pictures along the way. Head coach Guy Boucher took particular care to make absolutely sure that each fan knew that their commitment was appreciated:
"As if Guy Boucher wasn't cool enough, he just stayed & took pics/signed autographs w/ EVERY fan here! In a suit! In the HEAT!" -- Kelly Hickman "TheTampaGirl" via Twitter
Head coach Guy Boucher poses with two of the many fans who came out to say thanks for a great season.
Lightning winger Martin St. Louis shows the fans where his appreciation (and most of his game) comes from.
(All photos in this story courtesy of Kelly Hickman)
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welcomed home as heroes
As they damn well should have been…what Boucher and the players did shows why the Lighting are one of the more classy organizations in the NHL
"Don't look now, but there's one too many people in this room and I think it's you." Groucho Marx
In Prust We Trust
"Kovalev would work with Tortorella like a kitty would work in a microwave.
A lot of smoke and desperate clawing at the door. It wouldn’t work. It would just be a big, hot mess." -Dig Deep
Follow me @8kpower
by Kevin Power on May 28, 2011 6:24 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
It was great
Several of them—Thompson, Roli, and others—were tearing up. Boucher was the man—he kept his wife waiting in order to sign all the autographs and all the pictures asked of him.
I love this team.
"[The Lightning] are uncanny. When they want to get a goal, it's like they just snap their fingers or hit a button. They just dial it up. You can see it. It's like they flip a switch. When they are down, it's just like they think, 'we know we are going to score.' I don't know what it is, it leaves [the opposition] flabbergasted." - Mike Knuble, 3 May 2011
St. Louis, Boucher, and the rest of the team are a bunch of class acts. They deserve all the praise and love of their fans. Congratulations on a great season and a great playoff run Tampa.
@DigDeepNYR
"I like a man who grins when he fights." -Sir Winston Churchill
"It's just pain." -Brandon Prust | "In Prust we Trust."
In case it hasn’t been said yet, I would like to thank you and 8K for your supporting prescences this postseason here, and good luck to the Rangers next year.
I remember the Carolina game, and being able to spoil their chances in a game that meant nothing for the Lightning was really pleasing, for all of us I believe. And it provided a fine tune-up for the playoffs too. Thanks for making that game enjoyable.
by FloridaownsFSU on May 28, 2011 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Seconded.
"[The Lightning] are uncanny. When they want to get a goal, it's like they just snap their fingers or hit a button. They just dial it up. You can see it. It's like they flip a switch. When they are down, it's just like they think, 'we know we are going to score.' I don't know what it is, it leaves [the opposition] flabbergasted." - Mike Knuble, 3 May 2011
I’ve been planning a fan appreciation post for tomorrow. :o)
Win or lose, I'm proud of these guys.
Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community. Follow me on Twitter: @dagmar27.
by Cassie McClellan on May 28, 2011 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Here, here!
I also second (thirded?) this opinion.
You guys are the bomb! Good luck to the Rangers next year and I’ll definitely drop by BSB on game nights if the Bolts aren’t playing.
And yes, we DO like you guys.
Dwayne Roloson: "You damn [insert team name here]! GET OFF MY LAWN!!"
by Tina Robinson on May 29, 2011 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Thanks, Digger
I might just have to cheer for the Rags next year. At least in the Northeast. Any other, division, bets are still off. :-)
"[The Lightning] are uncanny. When they want to get a goal, it's like they just snap their fingers or hit a button. They just dial it up. You can see it. It's like they flip a switch. When they are down, it's just like they think, 'we know we are going to score.' I don't know what it is, it leaves [the opposition] flabbergasted." - Mike Knuble, 3 May 2011
Ummm… the ‘Rags’ play in the Atlantic.
by BobbyOrrsBastard on May 29, 2011 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Thanks again, DD and 8K. You guys are Teh Awesome™
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Raw Charge.
by John Fontana on May 28, 2011 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions
You like us
You really like us
"Don't look now, but there's one too many people in this room and I think it's you." Groucho Marx
In Prust We Trust
"Kovalev would work with Tortorella like a kitty would work in a microwave.
A lot of smoke and desperate clawing at the door. It wouldn’t work. It would just be a big, hot mess." -Dig Deep
Follow me @8kpower
Between Torts being in charge there and you guys being so cool here, all of my hatred for the Rangers is basically gone.
I don’t even know who i am anymore (looks into mirror, sheds single tear, sinks slowly to floor sobbing)
by Clark J Brooks on May 28, 2011 10:06 PM EDT up reply actions
If you really want a shock to your system
Drop by Blueshirt Banter from time to time…you’ll find that the misconception of ranger fans to be blown way out of proportion
"Don't look now, but there's one too many people in this room and I think it's you." Groucho Marx
In Prust We Trust
"Kovalev would work with Tortorella like a kitty would work in a microwave.
A lot of smoke and desperate clawing at the door. It wouldn’t work. It would just be a big, hot mess." -Dig Deep
Follow me @8kpower
by Kevin Power on May 28, 2011 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions
I will definitely do that
Confession: Even when I hated your team, I dug your uniforms.
by Clark J Brooks on May 28, 2011 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Confession: Even when I wasn’t interested in your team, I still got a good laugh out of the name “Darren Puppa”.
@DigDeepNYR
"I like a man who grins when he fights." -Sir Winston Churchill
"It's just pain." -Brandon Prust | "In Prust we Trust."
Confession: I still watch transactions of Glen Sather like one looks upon a train wreck.
I feel better now that’s of my chest. :-)
"[The Lightning] are uncanny. When they want to get a goal, it's like they just snap their fingers or hit a button. They just dial it up. You can see it. It's like they flip a switch. When they are down, it's just like they think, 'we know we are going to score.' I don't know what it is, it leaves [the opposition] flabbergasted." - Mike Knuble, 3 May 2011
Confession: We all do
"Don't look now, but there's one too many people in this room and I think it's you." Groucho Marx
In Prust We Trust
"Kovalev would work with Tortorella like a kitty would work in a microwave.
A lot of smoke and desperate clawing at the door. It wouldn’t work. It would just be a big, hot mess." -Dig Deep
Follow me @8kpower
by Kevin Power on May 30, 2011 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Confession: It’s too fucking hot outside.
@DigDeepNYR
"I like a man who grins when he fights." -Sir Winston Churchill
"It's just pain." -Brandon Prust | "In Prust we Trust."
WTH?
A confessional now? Well, I’m not gonna confess to ANYTHING!!
Except that I’m gonna be so ready for the season to start in October!
Dwayne Roloson: "You damn [insert team name here]! GET OFF MY LAWN!!"
by Tina Robinson on May 30, 2011 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions
For further proof, I went to a Rangers-Lightning game at MSG in December, wearing a Martin St. Louis jersey and everyone was really cool to me. MSG is, btw, a great building; I hope they don’t wreck it this summer.
"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
Yet another moment in which I lived in the Tampa area.
What a classy way to end the run- if it wasn’t a Cup, this is about what it should’ve ended like.
"You can't defense that!" -Gary Thorne, after Brian Roberts' go-ahead home run in the 8th inning of an O's game vs. TB
*in which I wish I lived
"You can't defense that!" -Gary Thorne, after Brian Roberts' go-ahead home run in the 8th inning of an O's game vs. TB
Thanks again...
…to Kelly Hickman. She’s not on the Raw Charge staff or even a hockey fan (well, until this year; I think she’s hooked now) but she allowed me to steal…err, share her photos and experiences since I was unable to attend in person. If you’re on Twitter, you should definitely follow her.
by Clark J Brooks on May 28, 2011 11:44 PM EDT reply actions
this
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Raw Charge.
by John Fontana on May 29, 2011 12:05 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Kudos to Boucher, Bergy and all the players who spent time with fans. What’s with MSL? He can’t sign autographs and take pics like most of the other guys? It’s the last game! I don’t care if he’s tired, or disappointed or whatever. I think it’s rude that he walked through and then got in his car. I know he had his family with him but it’s part of his job.
So proud of this team. So proud to be a Lightning fan. I wish I lived in Tampa, damn I wish I lived at least in the States! I would definitely make the trip down there to greet and thank these guys.
I'm in love with the Lightning, the Flyers are my fling and I have a crush on the Flyers fans.
Dare to follow my childish, biased, petty and cheesy alter ego. Go visit my website. I will keep you updated on every Simon injury.
American Cheese, B!tch! ... #1 mission? Kill Holmgren & Decapitate Kunitz.
Great season by the Lightning. I kept expecting them to drop in the standings after their good start, and they just kept proving me wrong (Roloson really proved me wrong). I love watching St. Louis, he’d be on my team in a heartbeat if I got to choose a dream team. Zach Parise, Patrice Bergeron would be a few other no-brainers on that list. Anyway, thanks for letting us win game 7, I’ve been cheering my whole life for the B’s and never made it this far, so I won’t feel too bad since you guys won not that long ago. Good luck next year, just not too much, :)
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