Game 40: Tampa Bay Lightning at Montreal Canadiens

by Cassie McClellan on Jan 7, 2012 10:31 PM EST in '11-'12 game recaps

The Tampa Bay Lightning lost to the Montreal Canadiens 3-1.

Frankly, they should be lucky that they didn't lose 5-1. The Canadiens had two goals waved off during this game. And, surprisingly, the fans didn't boo the refs at every break in play. Since they won the game, I suppose we won't have to worry about riots in the streets, either.

Regardless of the help from the on-ice officials, the Lightning were not able to win. They played great in the first period, carrying on from how they played the previous game in Toronto against the Maple Leafs. However, they went all Hyde on us in the second and third periods.

And that's what baffles fans the most. The Lightning play like they should for part of a game, and then their evil twins take over and shoot them in the foot. The inconsistency from one period to the next is the most frustrating thing of all. If the team was consistently mediocre, fans could be resigned about the fate of the season. But the fact that they show how they can play for chunks of time is simply a tease.

It doesn't help that when the offense gets going, the defensemen often forget to play defense because they want to jump into the play as well. And in more defensive games, the opposite happens. When the team hunkers down, the offense also gets defensive and stops shooting. Somehow, they've forgotten their traditional roles within the game.

Such was the case in the second and third periods. The defensemen gave up on playing defense. Instead, they were far more interested in jumping into the play and trying to create more offense - but were instead making themselves a defensive liability and allowing Montreal more offensive opportunities.

There were far too many turnovers, typically made by the defensemen. Out of the 14 turnovers recorded by the official scorers (seriously? 14?!), nine of those were made by defensemen. Mostly due to sloppy passing, but also by trying to force the offensive play along.

It wasn't all the defensemen's fault. This loss was a team effort. Mathieu Garon didn't exactly have his strongest game, but then he wasn't horrific, either. And the forwards looked fairly disorganized for the last two periods as well.

In the end, the Lightning didn't play their own game for the last two periods, allowing Montreal to dictate things, and it ended predictably. This game ended as the others did on this Canadian road trip with a loss, resulting in the Lightning getting zero points in the past three games. It's probably safe to say that, at this point, it's probably a good thing that realignment has been put off for another season.

There were bright spots in this game; not all of it was doom and gloom. Brett Connolly returned from Canada World Juniors and was in the lineup, though newly acquired defenseman Brendan Mikkelson, while apparently in Montreal, did not play. Also, Vincent Lecavalier scored his 15th goal of the season. And, there were only three penalties in the game - two of those by the Lightning - so discipline was never a factor.

The next game is Tuesday, 10 January, against the Vancouver Canucks. Game time is 7:30 pm ET. If you're not attending the game, please stop by and say hi to us on the Raw Charge game thread, which opens at 7 o'clock.

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Didn't get to see much, but make it 6-18 on the road now.

How awful.

Now on Twitter @Carcillo_

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by FloridaownsFSU on Jan 7, 2012 10:43 PM EST reply actions

I didn't watch the game, but this:

If the team was consistently mediocre, fans could be resigned about the fate of the season. But the fact that they show how they can play for chunks of time is simply a tease.

Hope folks still want to see them in Raleigh though. Site of one of those six wins, you know.

If I cared more about my UNC side, I'd call myself "Tar Volon," and that'd be awesome.
Bolts, Canes, Preds (now in different conferences!). Canes mini-STH. Southern hockey solidarity
Rocky Top Talk

by Incipient_Senescence on Jan 8, 2012 12:13 AM EST reply actions

Oh, I’m still there. ;o)

"You don't have enough talent to win on talent alone." -Herb Brooks

Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community. Follow me on Twitter: @dagmar27.

by Cassie McClellan on Jan 8, 2012 1:05 AM EST up reply actions

The team is just not exciting to watch

Even when they are playing well I’m feeling little passion inside of me this season. Maybe that’s because I have not been shown enough consistency to feel that the solid play will continue?

Certainly the goaltending has been less than solid, and the d-line has been decimated. But as you said Cass, the forwards really have not been up to par also. Passing has been pretty poor overall this half season, part of that seems to be poor positional play. Seems that a lot of the forwards disappear for long stretches. I continue to watch, but the pull of the games just is not as strong as even in the Tocchet seasons.

Right now, I just have to call this team boring. That saddens me, I really hope they can pull it together and make a run, but right now I seriously doubt this team has it in them.

by tampa_edski on Jan 8, 2012 9:24 AM EST reply actions

Serious issues rquire serious action

Yzerman is burning up the phone lines but it’s early yet and most teams aren’t willing to throw in the towel. The Bolts should and for obvious reasons. This is a totally different team with a top four d of Ohlund, Hedman, Brewer and Gilroy. I think Yzerman should start auctioning off pieces or at least considering it. I would try to trade Clark, Bergeron and Gilroy. Let Oberg and Mikkelson play, it can’t get much worse. I’d also try to trade Malone and Moore. I think Purcel could also be dealt. We need to make room for Ashton, Panik and maybe Conacher, most of our forwards are underperforming. The trick is for Yzerman to deal without crippling Norfolk and their playoff chances.

Don in St Pete

by Don in St Pete on Jan 8, 2012 9:04 PM EST reply actions

I meant Clark, Kubina and Bergeron

Don in St Pete

by Don in St Pete on Jan 8, 2012 9:05 PM EST reply actions

that's just not gonna happen

Clark, as “iffy” as his play has been, is in the last year of his deal—and is not good enough to “rent” for a playoff caliber team. Same with Kubina—except his upside is even less than Clark’s. MAB has been our 3rd best defenseman this year—why do you trade him when he’s a cheap effective defenseman? You’re not going to anything substantial for him so the Team may as well just keep him.

"The Revolution will be complete when the language is perfect"
- Smith in Orwell's 1984

by MTBoltFan on Jan 9, 2012 7:24 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

Also

I would not want to through the young guys to the wolves. It would totally kill their confidence and being an NHL defenseman, or an NHL player, is all about confidence. The Wild used to do this with their players and they have lost two first round picks because they did not develop them properly. Killed their confidence.

Though I would agree about trading some forward pieces for some defensive/goalie help. Nobody will want any part of the defenders on this team, IMO. Unless its Hedman or Brewer and I don’t think Yzerman wants to get rid of them.

by eamon17 on Jan 9, 2012 10:48 AM EST up reply actions

I wouldn’t expect that there’s a whole lot of imperative for the front office to make any drastic changes unless there’s a belief that one or two changes (and keeping in mind what players would be available to the Bolts) would send this team to the playoffs. That’s looking more and more unlikely these days. So I expect a lot of patience on Yzerman’s part.

Oh, and

Nobody will want any part of the defenders on this team, IMO

. Uh, yeah. Gotta agree with that.

R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Rakastan suuria maalivahteja Skandinaviasta.
Love is but a song we sing And fear's the way we die.

by CAustin on Jan 9, 2012 2:07 PM EST up reply actions

yeah, the problem is we're obvious sellers but don't actually have much that we're willing/able to sell

If I cared more about my UNC side, I'd call myself "Tar Volon," and that'd be awesome.
Bolts, Canes, Preds (now in different conferences!). Canes mini-STH. Southern hockey solidarity
Rocky Top Talk

by Incipient_Senescence on Jan 9, 2012 3:32 PM EST up reply actions

And that may very well be the case

But a couple of problems I see are set to manifest themselves next season regardless of whether we move any of these guys at the deadline or not. We’re close to the cap on NHL contracts and guys like Conacher have to be signed to an NHL deal or they’re free to sign with any NHL club in the off season. The list of upcoming free agents on defense and at goaltender is uninspiring. I think you’d like to let Ashton, Conacher and Panik enjoy a long playoff run with Norfolk. You risk losing your UFA’s for nothing if you don’t trade them at the deadline and I just don’t see us resigning Moore, Kubina or Clark. I think Hall still has some value because of his faceoff ability. I’d also like to see them keep Bergeron actually, but you’ve got to protect him a little better.

Don in St Pete

by Don in St Pete on Jan 9, 2012 3:53 PM EST up reply actions

Goalie free agents to be: (UFAs) Vokoun, Harding, Elliott, Montoya (RFAs) Rask, Schneider, Lindback, Lack, Irving, Bishop, Bachman, (and Carey Price, but I mean, seriously). I’d also take a run at Bernier, Desjardins (again), or Holtby. And there are others I’ve likely forgotten. Plenty of talent available these days. You just have to pay for it.

R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Rakastan suuria maalivahteja Skandinaviasta.
Love is but a song we sing And fear's the way we die.

by CAustin on Jan 9, 2012 4:25 PM EST up reply actions

A Schneider/Harding tandem would make this Lightning fan a happy camper.

Following the Lightning from Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
Let's. Go. BOLTS!

by Rafael Amarante on Jan 9, 2012 4:32 PM EST up reply actions

A Schneider/Harding tandem should make any hockey fan a happy camper. Unless your team is trying to score on them, of course.

R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Rakastan suuria maalivahteja Skandinaviasta.
Love is but a song we sing And fear's the way we die.

by CAustin on Jan 9, 2012 4:55 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, hehe

And it’s not that impossible to pull off. Hardest part is trade for Schneider.

Following the Lightning from Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
Let's. Go. BOLTS!

by Rafael Amarante on Jan 9, 2012 5:00 PM EST up reply actions

I can see Moore coming back, Boucher likes him a lot. But he’s maybe our best trade bait at the deadline.

Kubina and Clark will be gone.

Anyone knows how is the Bolts’ reserve list situation?

Following the Lightning from Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
Let's. Go. BOLTS!

by Rafael Amarante on Jan 9, 2012 4:34 PM EST up reply actions

Went back and looked at post-lockout standings

this week has taken us from “roughly 25% of teams this far back make the playoffs” to “nobody this far back has come back to make the playoffs since the lockout.”

Out of the playoff race by the season’s halfway mark. Sounds perfectly in keeping with all the other teams I follow

If I cared more about my UNC side, I'd call myself "Tar Volon," and that'd be awesome.
Bolts, Canes, Preds (now in different conferences!). Canes mini-STH. Southern hockey solidarity
Rocky Top Talk

by Incipient_Senescence on Jan 9, 2012 12:17 PM EST reply actions

Poor baby. :(

It is what it is. As so many people keep reminding us, “it’s a process.” There’ll be interesting times ahead.

R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Rakastan suuria maalivahteja Skandinaviasta.
Love is but a song we sing And fear's the way we die.

by CAustin on Jan 9, 2012 2:02 PM EST up reply actions

also perfectly in keeping with the other sports teams I follow

if I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard the word “process” since January 2010.

If I cared more about my UNC side, I'd call myself "Tar Volon," and that'd be awesome.
Bolts, Canes, Preds (now in different conferences!). Canes mini-STH. Southern hockey solidarity
Rocky Top Talk

by Incipient_Senescence on Jan 9, 2012 3:32 PM EST up reply actions