Hockey

Lightning lives after almost dying in third

May 21, 2016 general

Saturday, 5:45 a.m. Give up one goal, and it’s a nuisance. Yeah, Andrei Vasilveskiy lost his shutout. But that’s why heaven invented 4-0 leads. What’s the worry? Give up a second goal, and it’s a dilemma. Here come those dangerous Penguins again, scoring as quickly as a sneeze. Still, it’s going to be okay. Right? […]

Tagged as: Hockey, Lighting, Penguins, playoffs

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Bishop at his best as Bolts beat Leafs

March 29, 2016 general

Tuesday, 6 a.m. This is why you consider him. This is why he is in the running. Yes, Ben Bishop has lost 19 games this year, too often because of his scorers’ non-support. This, however, is why you can mention Bishop’s name with the Vezina Trophy without blushing. Did you see him Monday night? He […]

Tagged as: Bishop, Hockey, Lightning, Shutout

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First place slips away as Panthers beat Lightning

March 26, 2016 general

Saturday, 10:45 p.m. Evidently, the road for the Tampa Bay Lightning will be bumpy all the way to the end. After the season they have had, would you expect anything else? With first-place on the line Saturday night against the Florida Panthers, a rivalry that has taken on importance, the Lightning ran out of gas […]

Tagged as: Hockey, Lighting, Panthers, Stamkos

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Lightning wins, but loses defender Stralman

March 25, 2016 general

Friday, 11:52 P.m. The team had seven goals by seven players. It broke out in the third period for the win. It took over first place. Why, then, did this one feel like a loss? The mood in the Lightning locker was subdued, perhaps even somber. Along the way in a 7-4 victory over the […]

Tagged as: Hockey, Islanders, Lightning, Stralman

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In a busy time for sports, who won the weekend?

March 14, 2016 general

Monday, 6 a.m. There were athletes who succeeded in the quiet. There were athletes who triumphed in the noise. There were athletes who were good on the ice, and great on the greens, or terrific in the infield. There was even one who did well on the dotted line. But, in all of Tampa Bay, […]

Tagged as: baseball, golf, Hockey, Racing

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Lightning go international in latest win

January 20, 2016 general

Wednesday, 6 a.m. Once, there was distrust. Once, there was skepticism. Oh, it wasn’t that anyone doubted the talent of the Russian hockey player. Everyone agreed they were fast, and they were skilled, and they spoke the language of hockey. Still, a lot of coaches, and a lot of players, seemed to look differently at […]

Tagged as: Hockey, Lightning, Russians, Vasilevskiy

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Should Torts come to Blue Jackets with a warning?

October 22, 2015 general

Perhaps he would not be the best man behind the bench now. Perhaps his temper would be too great. Perhaps his voice would be too loud. And perhaps he would not have have been the best man for the first Lightning team. Perhaps his standards would have been high. Perhaps his intensity would have been […]

Tagged as: Hockey, Lightning, Stanley Cup, Tortorella

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To repeat, Lightning might find the skating rougher

October 8, 2015 general

Thursday, 6 a.m. The ice might not be as smooth. One of the Triplets could have a nagging injury. Steven Stamkos’ contract talks could get sticky. Things could go wrong, in other words. The power play might not have any. The penalty kill could die lonely. Slumps could happen. Another team might be heaven-kissed. There […]

Tagged as: Hockey, Lightning, Stamkos, Stanley

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