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"Covering Bolts Hockey "
" • Canada • 26 Years Old • Male
Sometimes, with a non-playoff team, you sit, you watch and you wonder how on earth it isn’t more competitive on a night-to-night basis? That’s exactly what happened with the Bolts tonight. With the parity in the National Hockey League, talent doesn’t necessarily mean everything. In today’s game, it’s all about work ethic and effort. In my opinion, the Bolts will beat the Capitals in those two categories nearly every night. Imagine for a second that this team, deemed “sellers”, could indeed make the post-season in the 2011-12. Consider the following points:

* The Bolts are getting some of the best goaltending they’ve had all season from Mathieu Garon. He’s playing big, strong and incredibly well. The fact of the matter is, he gives this team a chance to win each and every night. Even when Garon has a weaker outing, the Bolts’ offense has been able to pick up the slack.

* The teams above the Lightning are struggling. After tonight’s victory, the Bolts have 58 points. With the Leafs’ loss tonight, the 8th place team in the East has only 64. The Leafs look downright dreadful, the Capitals are just staying afloat, and the Jets are so enigmatic that it’s impossible to get a read on them. Point being, the Lightning could make a real run here.

* Here’s something I like to call the “Florida Factor”. Simply put, players like to play in Tampa. This group has a great GM, great coaches and a committed owner. What more would you want as a player? Oh, the weather! Yzerman has already traded Kubina and Moore. Would it surprise you if players started playing hard to keep their jobs here? Play in Tampa, or in St. Louis…..?

After a busy couple days of travel, I’m ready for the stretch drive here. Join me on trade deadline day for a live blog with Bolts updates and NHL deals throughout the day. It should be a good one. Let’s look forward to the stretch drive.

Sorry for the brief nature of this blog. I've been busy working on starting up my own TB Lightning blog. As of right now, it's just in the development stage. You can visit it here:

[url]tblhockeybuzz.blogspot.com

I'll be posting all my blogs here at HockeyBuzz and then over there as well. Gotta catch a plane, thanks for reading.

Please follow me on Twitter: @TBLHockeyBuzz
Filed Under:   tampa   bay   lightning   washington   capitals  
February 18, 2012 11:05 PM ET | Delete
Ben Bishop got recalled up to the Blues. Someone hurt? or something up?
February 18, 2012 11:06 PM ET | Delete
Playoffs in reach? Isn't Tampa having a fire sale?
February 18, 2012 11:55 PM ET | Delete
Fire sale and playing well!
February 19, 2012 2:02 AM ET | Delete
Bishop called up could be so that St. Louis can keep him as a RFA. Interesting move as you point out. As for the fire sale: Yzerman won't just give away players for nothing. He'll get value or he won't sell.
February 19, 2012 9:55 AM ET | Delete
talk about getting value, we have a potential 4 second rounders next year! Wonder if he's stalk pilling or putting something together for something bigger. Time will tell i guess.
February 19, 2012 2:42 PM ET | Delete
Completely agree, Oomroy. When it comes down to it, Yzerman has a huge pile of assets that could be turned into any number of great things. A second, fourth and a prospect for Kubina? A second for Moore and a 7th? Yzerman is completely winning these deals.
February 19, 2012 5:31 PM ET | Delete
I could see them packaging some of the second rounders for another goalie or defenseman. Got any guesses as to who it might be?
February 19, 2012 5:53 PM ET | Delete
The goalies rumored all year have been Bishop, Schneider, Bernier and Harding. Bernier's value isn't as high as many think right now. He isn't that proven but the potential is there. The Kings need scoring and there has been rumors of a Malone/Bernier packaged swap.
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Blog Archive

01 Lightning News and Notes to Start December
02 Why Bolts Must Get Into Bobby Ryan Trade Discussions
02 Breaking News: Lightning Make Minor Trade with Panthers
03 10 Bold Predictions for Rangers vs. Lightning Game
04 Lightning Lose to Rangers: My Prediction Round Up
06 Simply Embarassing: Lightning Drop 5th Straight to Islanders
08 Lightning Beat Rangers to End Losing Streak - Mixed Bag
10 The 1-3-1 Returns: Flyers Take on Bolts at Wells Fargo
11 Lightning Fall to Flyers: The Slot Looks Like a Drive-Thru
12 From Bad to Worse + Lightning Sign Miettinen
14 Lightning Talk: Defensemen to Target in Free Agent Frenzy
14 Scenario
15 Bolts Squeeze By Flames Thanks to Dominant Second Period
17 Lightning Should Make a Push for Shea Weber
18 Bolts Down Blue Jackets + Rumor Round-Up
20 Why the Lightning WILL make the Playoffs This Season
22 Lightning Embarrassed by Sharks in San Jose: U-G-L-Y
22 Tampa Bay Lightning: I Want Your Opinions
23 Bolts vs. Avalanche: A Long-Winded Game Preview
24 Bolts Lose to Avalanche in Goalie Battle + Rumor Round-Up
25 Risky Business: Victor Hedman and Other Top-5 D-Men
26 Flyers vs. Bolts Shaping Up to be a Great Game -- Preview
27 Next 6 Games Vital for Lightning + My Predictions
27 Bryzgalov Shaky as Lightning Beat Up on Flyers
29 A Tale of Two Underperforming Teams: Bolts vs. Canadiens
29 A V for Vinny, a V for Victory: Bolts Down Habs 4-3
30 Bolts/Canes Preview + HB Hotstove Response + Rumor Update
31 Lightning Defeat 'Canes 5-2 on Phil Esposito Night