Red Wings

As ever, the Lightning’s best hope is goalie Bishop

April 21, 2016 general

Thursday, 6 a.m. On the Tampa Bay Lightning, hope wears a mask. Don’t most superheroes? He is a large man, and when he bends, he fills the net. That’s the point. He does not allow light. He does not allow air. He does not allow possibilities. He is a man of intense focus. That’s another […]

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Is it okay to hate those pesky Red Wings?

April 19, 2016 general

Tuesday, 6 a.m. By now, you are working up a pretty good froth in the name of the Detroit Red Wings, aren’t you? By now, you curl your lip when you see those thermometer-colored uniforms (red so the blood stains wash out easier). You are thousands of miles away, but you hate the feel of […]

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Condra finally gets the night he’s been awaiting

March 23, 2016 general

Wednesday, 6 a.m. Who was that guy? You can pity the poor Detroit Red Wings. Steven Stamkos, they were prepared for. And Nikita Kucherov, they knew all about. And Tyler Johnson, and Ondrej Palat, maybe even Vlad Namestnikov. They had heard about Alex Killorn. But this guy? The guy who had sat out 28 times […]

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Tampa Bay triumphs, forces Game 7

April 28, 2015 general

Tuesday, 1:18 a.m. It will help if you don’t worry about breathing. Hunger? It can wait. Thirst? You can be thirsty later. Bathroom? That’s why they have intermissions, right? The Tampa Bay Lightning is heading toward another Game Seven. Time to break out the white knuckles and chew on the fingernails. The Lightning forced Game […]

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Lightning trail in series after struggling vs. Detroit

April 22, 2015 general

Wednesday, 12:10 a.m. The Lightning is not on the brink of disaster. But it can see it from here. The Lightning, back to being average on the road, lost a 3-0 decision to the Detroit Red Wings, placing all of the pressure of the series on winning Saturday’s game at Joe Louis Arena. If the […]

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Lightning scraps back to even its playoff series

April 18, 2015 general

Saturday, 7:30 p.m. TAMPA This, then, is where it starts. On a lazy Saturday when a team has its back against the wall. On a mid-April afternoon when it can look down and see the rocks. In the the thin air of the post-season where the Lightning was one game from being in trouble. This […]

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Alas, Lightning win doesn’t mean a big edge

March 20, 2015 general

Friday, 11:57 p.m. TAMPA You would like to think it meant something. Heck,  you would like to think it meant … everything. In the little part of you that imagines advantages, you Content beyond this point is for members only.

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Ask the Expert: Phil Esposito

February 26, 2015 general

Phil Esposito was a Hall of Fame forward for the Boston Bruins. Not only that, the Tampa Bay Lightning was his brainchild, and he was the team’s first owner. Even now, he works on the team’s radio crew. Each week, Esposito will answer questions from readers. To ask Phil a question, send it to GarySheltonsports@gmail.com. […]

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Paquette, of all people, sparks Lightning

January 29, 2015 general

TAMPA For the night, at least, the playoffs don’t look so frightening. For the night, at least, they actually seemed kind of friendly. Warm. Cuddly. Welcoming. Forget recent history, in fact, and you might be ready for them to start. Play them now, play them here, and you might like the chances of the Tampa […]

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