Step Two: Lightning clobbers Devils once again

April 15, 2018 general

Sunday, 3 a.m. For most of the year, it was among the cities where the doubts about this Tampa Bay Lighting team was born. In other places, for instance, they might have thought of the Bolts as skilled, as speedy, as sizzling. But in New Jersey, well, after three straight wins in the regular season, […]

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Fresh Deal? Archer clobbered as Rays lose again

April 15, 2018 general

Wednesday, 1 a.m. Can a pitching staff have a four of hearts? Pitcher Chris Archer, supposedly the ace of the Rays’ pitching staff, the stopper, struggled once again Saturday night.  Archer lasted only four innings and gave up eight hits and seven earned runs. The Rays fell, 9-4, to take their 11th loss in their […]

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Ask Gary: Wondering what Cash is really thinking

April 14, 2018 general

Each week, the readers take over GarySheltonsports.com and play Ask Gary. They send in a question, or a couple, on Thursday night or Friday morning and we all talk about the world of sports. Think of it as a radio show where you don’t have to be on hold. Join us and ask a question, […]

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Bullpen wobbly as Rays drop another close game

April 14, 2018 general

Saturday, 2 a.m. The season is still early, but some of the Tampa Bay Rays problems are growing old in a hurry. For the Rays, it was another day, another loss. It was a bullpen that wasn’t good enough. It was hitting that didn’t show up often enough. It was flubs that keep being repeated. […]

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Step One: Lightning relies on vets to beat Devils

April 13, 2018 general

Friday, 4 a.m. When a team is trying to match the glory of the past, perhaps the old days are  the perfect time to start the quest. Take, for instance, Tyler Johnson, yesterday’s hero. Johnson ripped a page out of his calendar Thursday night when he found the back of the net. And how about […]

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Can Bolts’ defense stand up in the playoffs?

April 12, 2018 general

Thursday, 4 a.m. They can blow up a scoreboard. They can leave melted tracks in the ice. They can wear out the goal nets. They can score fast, and they can score in bunches, and they can score throughout the lineup. Yeah, the Tampa Bay Lightning can be a fireworks show, all right. At a […]

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Rays don’t do the simple things in defeat

April 12, 2018 general

Friday, 3 a.m. It’s the ultimate rule in baseball: The big moments will devour the bad teams. All of which lead to the Tampa Bay Rays, who have some explaining to do. The Rays lost a 2-1 game to the Chicago White Sox because they fell short in the crucial moments.  Content beyond this point […]

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Remembering the early days of the Lightning

April 11, 2018 general

Wednesday, 4 a.m. In the early days, Phil Esposito stood in a barn and leaned over the rail. “Give me one game,” he was saying. “Just give me one game, and I’ll have you hooked.” As he talked, he stared at you. He did not blink. He was a salesman who believed in his product […]

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Rays win again despite Colome’s shaky finish

April 11, 2018 general

Wednesday, 3 a.m. Miracle of miracles, what we have here is a winning streak. Two games worth. Whee. The Tampa Bays followed a familiar pattern to its second straight win, and third of the season, on Tuesday in a 6-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox. The Rays hit the ball decently, again, and held […]

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Ten Lightning players who could shine for Bolts

April 10, 2018 general

Tuesday, 4 a.m. It was when Tyler Johnson earned his hat. It was when Nikolai Khabibulin became the wall. It was when Marty became a legend. Things change in the playoffs. The air becomes thinner. The space becomes tighter. The noise becomes louder. The moments become golden. It will be that way, presumably, for the […]

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