Stamkos

For Lightning, it’s time for the stars to come out

June 11, 2015 general

Thursday, 5:03 p.m. It’s as simple thing, really. The leaders have to lead. The impact players have to make an impact. The best players have to be the best players. For the Tampa Bay Lightning, it is that simple. If they are going to win the Stanley Cup, they will have to look to the […]

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Lightning scoring comes up dry as Bishop sits out

June 11, 2015 general

Thursday, 12:22 a.m. You can sum it up like this: There was a Ben Bishop-sized hole in the Tampa Bay Lightning Wednesday night. To most fans of the Tampa Bay Lightning, that’s how this one will be remembered. Period. It doesn’t matter that rookie Andrei Vasilevskiy played well. It doesn’t matter that Chicago got only […]

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For Tampa Bay, Chicago the key is desperation

June 9, 2015 general

Tuesday, 3:26 p.m. The biggest motivator they have is that hollowed out feeling of plummeting downward. It is then, in that moment of abject desperation, that the Tampa Bay Lightning is at its best. It is then, when there is nothing left to do but to fight, that they play the finest hockey of their […]

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Is Vasilevskiy good enough to take Bolts to Cup?

June 7, 2015 general

Sunday, 8:15 p.m. Odds are, Andrei Vasilevskiy doesn’t have a clue about who Jeff Hostetler is. Old Hoss wasn’t quite the rage in Russia. He probably doesn’t know about Magic Johnson, either. Or Doug Williams. The lore of backup athletes who have stepped in on the way to a title is probably lost on Vasilevskiy, […]

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Resilient Lightning surge back to beat Chicago

June 6, 2015 general

Saturday, 11:53 p.m. Tampa Say this for the players of the Tampa Bay Lightning. They can take a punch. Content beyond this point is for members only.

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Lightning face, oh, it-would-be-nice game

June 5, 2015 general

Friday, 2:53 p.m. Together, they make a face. Together, they shake their heads. Must win? No, say members of the Tampa Bay Lightning, this isn’t a must win. This is a gee-it-would-be-good-to-win. This is a wouldn’t-this-series-feel-better-if-you-win. This is a what’s-the-hurry-to-win. And sure, the Lightning could still be in marvelous shape if it won. Even after […]

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Bishop reflects his Lightning team in Game 6 loss

May 27, 2015 general

WEDNESDAY, 1:02 A.M. Tampa He is a man of his team. Everything you wish to think about the Tampa Bay Lightning, you may think of goaltender Ben Bishop. One day, he is a goat. The next, he is a guard dog. One day, he is everything wrong. The next, he is most things right. One […]

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Lightning wants to close out series now

May 26, 2015 general

Wednesday, 5:39 p.m. They have a game to play with. What’s the big deal? They can lose one and still win it. Isn’t that a great position to be in? They are playing with house money. Aren’t things great? Steven Stamkos doesn’t want to hear any of it. To him, this is the night, and […]

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Bishop rejects questions, pucks in big Bolts win

May 25, 2015 general

 Monday, 12:38 a.m. Okay, are there any more questions for Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop? You in the front row. Do you want to ask him about how shaky he had looked in the previous game? No? You in the back? Do you want to ask him if the pressure of the playoffs is getting to […]

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Is it time for Lightning fans to doubt Bishop?

May 23, 2015 general

Saturday, 12;34 a.m. Tampa The questions came in hard and low. Every now and then, there was a deflection. Still, Ben Bishop did not blink. He stood in the firing line, trying to sound calm, trying to sound confident. Mostly, he made it. Outside, he knew heads were shaking and eyes were rolling. All of […]

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