Tuesdays with Dani: Stamkos first to hit 30 goal mark this season

I would start this intro about how the two teams playing tonight faced off last year in the Eastern Conference final and now are at polar opposite of the Eastern Conference standings, but instead let's talk about how Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times has Steven Stamkos as one of her pluses in her pluses and minuses article, citing Stamkos being the first player to reach the 30 goal mark this season.

Here are your links for the week:

Your Lightning links:

• Your stat for today for something positive via the Lightning website: Steven Stamkos and Vincent Lecavalier have combined for the most goals among any pair of NHL teammates since Christmas with 16
• SB Nation Tampa Bay's mid season review of the Lightning
• A year later, the Panthers and Lightning have switched fortunes (SBN)
• Cory Conacher continues to impress with his rookie season with the Norfolk Admirals. "To be honest, there are other players a little more ready to play at this level, at this time," BriseBois said, "but Cory is knocking on the door. It probably won’t be this year, more than likely, but we expect him to play for the Lightning soon." (Burlington Post)
• Gary Shelton writes "Egad. The Tampa Bay Lightning has become the Tampa Bay Bucs." (Tampa Bay Times)
• Days of Y'Orr picks apart our goal differential and provides a dancing Boucher photoshop

The rest of your links after the jump...

• Happy blogaversary to Don't Trade Vinny
• Steve Yzerman is focusing on the long-term prosperity of the franchise saying "We're not giving up our picks and our top prospects, period. I've been humbled before in this game many times. You just believe in yourself and the people around you and you'll get there. You look at teams like Boston and Pittsburgh — they've got depth. They've got assets that give you flexibility. No matter what, we're not going to sacrifice the future around here.'' (The Tampa Tribune)
• Nolan has some recent thoughts and curious trends on the team (Frozen Sheets Hockey)/

Your links from around the NHL:

• The Minnesota Wild are expected to be without Mikko Koivu for about 4-6 weeks (Star Tribune)
• Blue Jackets forward Dane Byers is suspended 3 games for an illegal hit to the head of Sharks player Andrew Desjardins (TSN)
  
• A great comic by Earl Sleek on Battle of Cali from last week, regarding NHL realignment and the Pacific Division
• Ken Dryden talks about the unwavering spirit and will to win that is found in hockey (Grantland)
• A great read from Ellen of A Theory of Ice on women, hockey and learning how to play this guys game
  
• Last week Jack Johnson of the Kings talks about a Tebow goal celebration that he did because of a bet he had with friends (Mayors Manor on Hockey Independent)
• Did you watch Dustin Penner's wedding video yet? (The Royal Half)
• Or Dustin Penner's response to pancakegate? (Mayors Manor)
• Jesse Spector continues his concussion series with 'It's the whole brain that takes the hit'
• A look at how the mid-game trade unfolded for Mike Cammalleri (Hockey Independent)
• Nicklas Lidstrom and Teemu Selanne were ripped by Ken Warren of Post Media for opting out of the All-Star game (Puck Daddy)
• SBN's mid-season awards picks Quick for the Hart, Lundqvist for the Vezina and Bolland for the Selke among their picks