Up next: Steven Stamkos, Martin St. Louis, and the Tampa Bay Lightning
by JustinM on Mar 14, 2010 10:55 AM EDT
in 2009-10 game previews
6 comments
Record: 28-27-12 (10th in the East)
Scorers: Martin St. Louis (24g, 57a), Steven Stamkos (42g, 38a), Vincent Lecavalier (19g, 41a)
Top GVT contributors (hey, I have to be a nerd sometimes): Stamkos (18.3), St. Louis (15.1), Antero Niittymaki (8.8)
It's hard to know what to expect when the Penguins play the Lightning. So far this season, the Penguins are 1-1-0 against the Lightning, with a 4-1 victory in which Antero Niittymaki played poorly, followed by a 3-1 loss in which Mike Smith was lights out. This pretty much mirrors their historical record against Tampa Bay, 31-24-5. Considering how often the Lightning didn't have much of a team and the Penguins still struggled with them, everything about the franchise series has been unpredictable.
The Penguins are coming off a loss to the Devils on Friday night while the Lightning, on the other hand, just polished off a 3-2 victory over the Southeast Division- and NHL-leading Washington Capitals. Still, even though they are second in the Southeast, with their point total the Lightning would be fifth in every other division except the Pacific, where they'd be dead last. One could say that they're being held down by six games against the Capitals; one could also bet that they're fattening up on the highly questionable teams they fight with, fruitlessly, over second place.
This game depends on which Penguins team shows up and which Evgeni Malkin shows up. The lackluster one we saw on Friday, or the team we saw the prior Saturday that ripped the Dallas Stars a new one and the Malkin who got a hat trick against the Islanders in January.
As Frank would say, puck and thread drop at 5:00. If you're in Pittsburgh, the game is on FSN even though it's a late afternoon game.
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with all the attention on Stamkos, St. Louis has quietly had a stellar campaign so far… amazing how he’s never mentioned among the superstars of the league and yet his numbers show he’s right up there…
You have to see it for yourself...
by Bla Razor on Mar 14, 2010 12:11 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
St. Louis is the engine that drives the Lightning
He’s continually below-the-radar in the league but a dynamic forward that would be painted a superstar if he was in a traditional market. (that’s not playing down how much Tampa loves him, that’s playing down how the media focuses on the Northeast and neglects the rest of the continent).
9:12. Lights out. Raw Charge.
by John Fontana on Mar 14, 2010 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions
The only one holding the Bolts down are the Bolts themselves
Friday was another example of it. They rose to the occasion and thumped Washington… But the night before they lost to the Leafs in OT. They had lost to the Canadiens a few days earlier. Teams that are on-par and below (point wise) with the Lightning.
The Bolts have been inconsistent all season, that is their biggest hindrence. Their defense was revamped in the off season but the squad looks lost at times. Goaltending can only do so much.
9:12. Lights out. Raw Charge.
based on the players on their team this year I had them in a playoff spot in the preseason predictions… they’ve really managed to lose too many of those one goal games…
You have to see it for yourself...
Yup
And other games they just haven’t competed in. It’s a mindset that is lacking — one that would suggest they compete in every game, not play only 25 minutes of hockey a night.
Watching them nightly, I keep hoping that THIS is the game they turn the corner. They had a hot streak before the Olympic break but lost three crucial games against teams they were in direct competition with for a layoff berth: The Bruins, the Rangers and (to a lesser extent) the Isles. It was at that point I realized there would be no corner turn.
Even if they miraculously make the playoffs, they are one-and-done. The East ha been so weak this season that they still have a chance to make it.
9:12. Lights out. Raw Charge.
by John Fontana on Mar 14, 2010 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions
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