general

Cooper masterminded Bolts’ turnaround

May 4, 2018 general

Friday, 4 a.m. His face is Andrei Vasilevskiy’s. The eyes gaze ahead, missing nothing but giving nothing away. Like Vasilevskiy, there is a fire burning inside, but darned if you can see the smoke. His voice is Steven Stamkos’. Always calm, always analytical. Maybe there are times he wants to snap, but he hides those […]

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Can the Bucs’ defensive line be monstrous?

May 4, 2018 general

Friday, 3 a.m. They haven’t shared the same room yet, let alone the same huddle. Already, however, the legend of the rebuilt defensive line of the Tampa Bay Bucs has begun. The Monsters, anyone? What it lacks in subtlety, it gains in sheer force. The new defensive line of the Bucs — Jason Pierre-Paul, Gerald […]

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Step six: Bolts take lead in series with win in Boston

May 3, 2018 general

Thursday, 4 a.m. If the members of the Tampa Bay Lightning live a bad life and die, it is assured what hell will look like. Frankly, it will look a lot like Boston. For most of this franchise’s history, the city has been the personal torture chamber of the Lighting. Think of it as a […]

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Rays’ bats quiet in extra-inning loss to Detroit

May 3, 2018 general

Thursday, 3 a.m. The problem with the eight-game road trip by the Tampa Bay Rays is this. The bats only made it through five. Once again, the Rays’ offense struggled mightily Wednesday afternoon in a 3-2, 12-inning loss to the Detroit Tigers. The Rays scored two in the first two innings, then were shut out […]

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Out at home: Rays can’t score against Tigers

May 2, 2018 general

Wednesday, 4 a.m. When the bats aren’t working, a team has a temptation to try to force the issue. In major league baseball, it often doesn’t work out. Take the Rays on Tuesday night, who failed when they tried to force the issue and ended up losing a 2-1 game to the Detroit Tigers. The […]

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In their biggest game, Bolts need Stamkos again

May 2, 2018 general

Wednesday, 3 a.m. Once again, the other players of the Tampa Bay Lightning turn their heads toward his cubicle. Once again, they wait for him to make a pass, make a shot, make a goal. Once again, they look to Steven Stamkos to lead the way. On the Lightning, he has become the second-best scoring […]

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Lightning get up off the floor against Bruins

May 1, 2018 general

Tuesday, 4 a.m. It still isn’t the perfect situation. The numbers are not stacked in their favor. The series is tied at 1-1, but that gives an edge beyond the game score to the visitors. Still, the Tampa Bay Lightning showed a little push-back on Monday night. And, yes, their pulse is still beating. The […]

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Rays win after harrowing ninth inning

May 1, 2018 general

Tuesday, 2 a.m. Whee! It’s another streak. Actually, this one is just a baby. One game old. But after an eight-game streak was snapped Sunday in a loss to the Red Sox, any streak at all will do. Right? The Rays won an odd game Monday night. Jake Faria battled Detroit pitchers to a 0-0 […]

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Rays’ streak snapped in narrow defeat

April 30, 2018 general

Sunday, 3 a.m. The streak is dead. According to the Tampa Bay Rays, it’s time to start another one. The Rays lost 4-3 to the Boston Red Sox Sunday blowing a 3-0 lead as their eight-game winning streak ended. The Rays tried to mount comebacks in the eighth and ninth innings, but both times, Craig […]

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What to expect from Bucs’ newcomers

April 30, 2018 general

Monday, 2 a.m. By their natures, coaches love new toys. They like players who have not failed them (yet). They like knowing of their past successes. They love the new energy they bring to the roster. They like personalties and potential and fresh starts. And so Dirk Koetter will look upon the new roster of […]

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