Back in the Black

D4n B0yl3 0wnz j00.

Well, so does Brad Richards, Vincent Lecavalier, Ruslan Fedotenko and Martin St. Louis.

In a game where the Lightning needed to show that they did in fact belong in the Stanley Cup Finals, the team put on a performance that got them that far by dominating the game 4-1. Brad Richards posted his 6th Game Winning Goal of the playoffs to tie the Stanley Cup Playoff record of 6 by Joe Niewundyke.

Dan Boyle scored -- and tended to play like his house was burning down (a phrase I repeated over and over with friends on Thursday Night).

All in all the Bolts played more up to par -- and I don't say this simply because they won. Game 1 saw failures in passing, shooting the puck ON GOAL, defensive lapses and the like. It was a rare let down from a team that has been firing on all cylinders since January.

And Thursday Night, they gave all at Times Palace a glimpse of the team that they knew full well -- the team that could perform at all ends of the rink and not be intimidated.

Game 3 is set for Saturday and the Lightning put their perfect game 3 record on the line in front of the "C of Red" at Saddledome.