ECSF Game 3 preview: Washington Capitals (1) at Tampa Bay Lightning (5)
by John Fontana on May 3, 2011 12:23 PM EDT
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WHERE: St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida
WHEN: 6:30 PM EDT | | TICKETS: Check Availability
MEDIA: Versus (cable), 970 WFLA (radio)
OPPONENT COVERAGE: Japers' Rink, Rock The Red, Caps 'round the Clock
The Bolts return to their home in Channelside this evening for what will be a quick homestand. All too quick for a wary team that has played five games in the past 10 days, jetting between Tampa, Pittsburgh and Washington and Tampa again. The Lightning and the Capitals go back-to-back, something not regularly heard of during the playoffs, for games 3 and 4, before getting a pair of days off before a Saturday matinée in Washington...
If necessary...
The Bolts have come home in what is close to the best circumstances possible: Leading the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semifinal series with the Washington Capitals, 2 games to 0. The Lightning, however, are not looking at things like they have the series in the bag:
"It means nothing," right wing Martin St. Louis said of the 2-0 lead. "We have to earn it every day. This is about whoever wins four games, not two. Obviously we are happy with the results, but we've done nothing yet.''
Of course, they aren't in the absolute best situation right now -- defenseman Pavel Kubina and left wing Simon Gagne were both knocked out of game 1 on Friday. While Gagne has stated that he's feeling well and wants to return to action tonight, there's no telling if that will actually occur or not.
There's also the strategic side to giving Gagne an additional day of rest of recuperation: being completely ready and available for game 4 tomorrow night. As it stands right now, I would think that if Guy Boucher allows Gagne to play game 3, he may be of one mind or another to keep Gagne out of game 4 as a precaution.
Yes, it's the playoffs, but coach Boucher's strategy is every present, and the necessity to be ready for tomorrow is as prevalent as being ready to lunge into tonight's game with full force.
Of course, another part of tonight's story is the introduction of the "Blue Storm" to the Tampa Bay Lightning faithful. While, simplicity, it's another (color)out that teams have done repeatedly for years... Well, it beats a standard white-out that the Lightning have tried to employ in the past. It's also a forward thinking act, as blue does become the team's primary color in 2011-12.
Here's a question (that may have already been answered by Washington head coach Bruce Boudreau): Do you start Michal Neuvirth again? Or do you give Semyon Varlamov the start in goal? Or do you simply make that change tomorrow to give the fresher goalie the start?
The same question can be asked for the Lightning: Do you start Mike Smith tonight to give Dwayne Roloson rest for the flip-sid eof this back-to-back series? Or do you start Roloson tonight and Smith tomorrow?
...
Assistant coach Wayne Fleming is undergoing surgery in Irvine, California today. Fleming was diagnosed recently with a malignant brain tumor and has been undergoing treatment since April 7th. Our thoughts, prayers and well wishes are with him. He's one of our own, and he deserves our support.
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Let me tell you
We’re six hours from puck drop and I’m nervous as hell. The Caps have their backs against the wall, and they could easily have a tied series and momentum in 36 hours. We need to prevent that. Tonight.
Also, I stand by these positions:
*We should wear the blue alternates if we’re doing a blue storm.
*Roloson should start game three and rest game four. That gives him three days rest between games three and five (or, in a perfect world, a long rest between game three and next series). I become more tentative on this if we lose game three, but I still think it’d probably be for the best.
by Incipient_Senescence on May 3, 2011 12:31 PM EDT reply actions
I don’t think the Lightning are allowed to wear their blue alts. Teams are allowed to wear one uniform at home and one on the road in the playoffs – they can opt to use alternates in place of their primaries if they so desire, but must stick with the alts then. If anything, the Lightning probably should’ve gone with the blue’s from the start, since the black’s will be gone (temporarily, hopefully) come October.
The Lightning need to approach tonight’s game as if the Caps had held serve at home. I imagine they’ll come out firing tonight, much like the 2nd period on Sunday, and if the Lightning don’t keep up, they’ll find themselves behind by multiple goals in relatively short order. Lest we forget that there’s a reason the Capitals had the best record in the Eastern Conference – it wasn’t by accident.
by FloridaownsFSU on May 3, 2011 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions
did not know that
kinda a lame rule, imo
by Incipient_Senescence on May 3, 2011 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Let me reply
That we’re getting close to puck drop, and I couldn’t be more relaxed. Why? Because in the big picture the Lightning have accomplished everything they could have reasonably dreamed of accomplishing this year and more. I think that in their wildest dreams, Vinik, Yzerman and Boucher saw a playoff berth this year. In an even better world, we put up a good fight in that first series and go out looking like a team that’ll give it a good run next year.
We came back from a 3-1 deficit to win that series in a Game 7. And now we have the number one team in the East with their backs against the wall, trying to figure out a way to handle us. The little ol’ Lightning. The biggest thing tonight is to put on a good show for the home fans, and smugly realize that we as Bolts fans have gotten a great return on any emotional investment we’ve put in this year, no matter what, and that this is all gravy from here.
I agree, I’ll still be nervous. I want more shots on goal, I want tougher play in front of Rollie. (I want some fair officiating, damn it!) But this should be 95% fun and 5% genuine stress for Lightning fans and players alike, I think. For the Caps? Reverse that.
Also- Could not possibly agree more on the alternate jerseys, especially if the fans are going to be wearing blue. It seemed really odd to me that the Pens had “whiteout” nights at home, and yet the Bolts were wearing white jerseys for those games. Also, just got my Dad and I two alternates with Stammer and Marty.
by IamIANiLIKEhockey on May 3, 2011 1:14 PM EDT reply actions
see, I can do that "happy for what we've accomplished"
when I think we’re done accomplishing stuff. But as long as I believe we can do more, I remain nervous. Once we’re out, I’ll look back and realize how great that is. But I’m hoping that doesn’t happen until. . . say. . . June.
Also, Stammer and Marty alternates. . . nice!
by Incipient_Senescence on May 3, 2011 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions
No one – including fans – no one thought the Lightning would make it out of the first round. I mean, making playoffs was the only requirement of the season after the previous three of dismal failure. Anything more is gravy. So sit back and enjoy the ride. There’s no pressure to win anything at this point. All of the pressure’s on the Caps. If they lose to the Lightning, their coach may be fired.
The ways of Jedi Master Yzerman are not the ways of others.
Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community. Follow me on Twitter: @dagmar27.
by Cassie McClellan on May 3, 2011 1:21 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I was sitting back and enjoying the ride with no pressure after game four against Pittsburgh
Because I thought we were toast. Ever since game five, I’ve been getting less and less relaxed, not because I’m afraid we won’t meet expectations, but because of the chance we have to exceed them so wildly.
by Incipient_Senescence on May 3, 2011 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions
ohh, I like that
BB getting fired? That would be sweet.
Still, let us reflect in the way way back machine for a moment. 2003, we lose the first 2 at home, then won the next 4 against these Caps. So nothing is won yet. I think the Lightning need to play like it’s game 7 every game.
Of course there are a couple differences between 2003 and now. Caps were not considered a machine/Cup contender, Lightning were the 1st place team in the SE, it was the first round. But I still have no feelings of comfort, especially with the reports I’m seeing that the Lightning did not play especially well in the 2 wins…
On to the game thread…
Can't wait for the puck drop
If we manage to get a goal early I thnik the Caps will collapse pretty hard, so I really hope for a aggressive start for the Bolts.
GO BOLTS!
Following the Lightning all the way from Brasil!
Puck drop getting closer...
Very edgy, here…
I hope the players are finding it easier to relax than this fan, at the moment.
:)
GO BOLTS!!
Rule of thumb should be...
NEVER sit a hot goaltender in the playoffs. I know we have had very little rest and Roloson is dragging 40, but he’s not exactly showing signs of fatigue (and if he IS tired, he’s hiding it quite well). No matter how absurd the schedule is (and it has been absurd, not just for this series), you don’t sit your MVP goaltender. You just don’t…
by In All Kinds of Weather on May 3, 2011 5:41 PM EDT reply actions
The Caps and Pens had a b2b in 2009, Games 4 (@PIT) and 5 (WSH). Semyon Varlamov had been the best goalie in the playoffs through Game 3 of that series, but he was “meh” in Game 4 and clearly worn down by the final three games. Depends on how much room for error Tampa has. I think if the Bolts pull out this game you rest Roloson the next one.
My blog and Twitter, featuring coverage of the most frustrating team in the NHL
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"Numbers don't lie, they just don't agree with you"--George E. Ays
If I reference a lot of stats, just assume I haven't seen anything to contradict or invalidate them.
by red army line on May 3, 2011 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions
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