Exclusive Lightning coverage by Gary Shelton Sports

Ask the Expert: Phil Esposito

January 22, 2015 College Sports in Florida

Thursday, 2 p.m. 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 […]

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My speech to the Clearwater Rotarians

January 21, 2015 College Sports in Florida

I spoke to the good folks at the Clearwater Rotary Club on Wednesday. Here are the notes to my speech. In questions, they wanted to know about inflate-gate, whether it had any affect on the final score (no), who the Bucs should draft (Winston unless they’re afraid of him). Wednesday, 4:55 p.m. Before there were […]

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Defense leads Bolts in victory before break

January 20, 2015 general

Tuesday, 11:44 p.m. TAMPA For a night, they were guard dogs. For a game, they were predators on the hunt. For one outing, at least, the defensemen of the Tampa Bay Lightning was on the prowl. This is how the defense of the Lightning has to play. It has to be energized. It has to […]

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After long wait, can rookie help Lightning win?

January 20, 2015 general

Tuesday, 12:27 p.m. TAMPA Forever, he has waited. Forever, he has skated in the arenas where no one watches. Forever, he has skated toward this moment. Tonight, it all becomes worthwhile for Luke Witkowski. Finally. Witkowski, a defenseman for the Tampa Bay Lightning, oh, for an eternity, makes his NHL debut at last tonight. For […]

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Could young athletes give Tampa Bay a new chance?

January 19, 2015 general

Monday, 6 a.m. There was a time the meek of Tampa Bay inherited the earth. There were a time when young, promising athletes flooded the market. There was a time when the scoreboard changed. There was a time when Tampa Bay mattered. Could it happen again? Perhaps you remember the last time. It was in […]

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Bishop salvages a night that could have slipped away

January 17, 2015 general

Saturday, 11:25 p.m. TAMPA This is how bad hockey can hurt. Ben Bishop stood in front of his net, his head hung as if it were feeling ill. He had just swiped the puck away, but it was too late. With six heartbeats left, it had found the back of the net, and it had […]

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To all fields: Bowden again is second in victories

January 17, 2015 College Sports in Florida

Saturday, 11:17 a.m. In Tallahassee… Once again, he is second best. Once again, he is the silver medalist. On the other hand, doesn’t Bobby Bowden’s statue look nice. These days, you’d have to visit an unnamed closet to visit Joe Paterno’s. You’ll find it in the back with your plaid sports coat. Content beyond this […]

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Here in Caboose City, we hunger to win another title

January 16, 2015 general

Friday, 11:22 a.m. We lose. That’s what we do. We fumble. We strike out. In the world of sports, we sit in the penalty box. This is the lot of Tampa Bay. Fourth Place Bay, you might call it. The place where end zones are the promised land, where drafts are hope, where new coaches […]

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Palat is a steadying influence on Lightning

January 15, 2015 general

Thursday, 11:29 p.m. TAMPA As the NHL season has established, Tyler Johnson has the speed. Nikita Kucherov has the skills. Ondrej Palat? He has the glue. Johnson is on his way to the all-star game. Kucherov is among the league leaders in plus-minus. Palat? He’s the guy who holds it together. Content beyond this point […]

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Ask the Expert: Phil Esposito

January 14, 2015 general

Wednesday, 10:36 a.m. 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 […]

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