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Tampa Bay Lightning loses to New Jersey Devils in shootout 2-1
The Lightning's shootout problems continued in a 2-1 loss to the Devils on Saturday afternoon at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa. Tampa Bay (4-3-4) couldn't get the puck past New Jersey's Martin Brodeur in four tries to fall to 0-4 in shootouts this season. The Devils needs only a goal from David Clarkson against Antero Niittymaki. The Lightning's goal in regulation came from Steven Stamkos, his team-leading 10th of season, early in the third period to tie the score at 1. Stamkos got assists from Ryan Malone and Marty St. Louis, who recorded his 600th career point. ... Read more
Give Tampa Bay Lightning's Zenon Konopka credit for fighting Chris Neil, but it didn't need to happen
Let's start with this, I have no problem with fighting in hockey. But sometimes there are circumstances when it just doesn't need to happen.
Take Thursday night's game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Senators. Ottawa's Chris Neil, who loves to stir it up, came out from behind his own net with Tampa Bay's Steve Downie, who obviously had annoyed Neil while battling for the puck (and who also probably remembers Downie's bad hit on Dean McAmmond in 2007). Anyway, Neil gives Downie an elbow across the back of the head. ... Read more
Tampa Bay Lightning beats Ottawa Senators 5-2
Steven Stamkos scored two goals and added an assist, and Alex Tanguay finally broke through for his first goal of the season as the Lightning defeated the Senators 5-2 on Thursday night at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa. Ryan Malone and Todd Fedoruk also scored for the Lightning (4-3-3), and Mike Smith made 21 saves.
Tampa Bay Lightning wing Alex Tanguay gets a chance to play on Steven Stamkos' line
With Vinny Lecavalier's game starting to come around, the next step for the Tampa Bay Lightning is to get Alex Tanguay going. Toward that end, coach Rick Tocchet during the week moved Tanguay from Jeff Halpern's line to Steven Stamkos' line, and it is expected Tanguay will play there tonight against the Senators.
Couple things at work here. Stamkos and left wing Ryan Malone are hot right now, and Tanguay played pretty well with Halpern and is looking a bit more comfortable. It also would be good to get Tanguay back on an offensive-minded line, and perhaps keep him there for a while to see how he does.
"Alex, I need to get him stabilized," Tocchet said. ... Read more
Anthony Sansone Jr. says he still is interested in buying the Tampa Bay Lightning
A St. Louis real estate developer who also has been kicking the Tampa Bay Lightning's tires, reiterated he still has interest in buying the team, but declined comment on where his due diligence stands, though it is reasonable to assume he still is determining if the numbers work.
Reached in Europe where he is on business, Anthony Sansone Jr., said, "Obviously, we remain interested," but would not say when he will decide whether or not to pursue ownership. ... Read more
Miami Beach real estate investor Jeff Greene drops bid to buy the Tampa Bay Lightning (updated)
Miami Beach real estate investor Jeff Greene has decided not to pursue buying the Tampa Bay Lightning. In a statement, Greene said:
“After careful due diligence and a thorough analysis of the terms and economics of the deal, we have determined that this investment does not meet our criteria. At Florida Sunshine Investments, we are presented diverse investment opportunities here in Florida, throughout the United States and around the world. We looked at the investment in the Lightning like we look at any other potential investments, and after doing our final analysis, the numbers did not work for us.
“I want to thank the National Hockey League and the Lightning ownership for their courtesy during this process." ... Read more
Tampa Bay Lightning's Zenon Konopka would be leading the league in faceoffs except ...
So, let's consider Zenon Konopka for a moment. Tough guy, once told me he doesn't mind fighting, as in he doesn't hate doing it. Fourth-line scrounger. But, and here's the kicker, a hell of a faceoff guy. Konopka, a center, has won 70.2 percent of his draws (40 of 57). That would leads the league, but Konopka is not listed among the leaders because he hasn't taken enough faceoffs.
League rules say players must take at least 15 percent of their team's draws before they can be listed. With the Lightning having taken 518 total faceoffs, Konopka would need 78 to be among the leaders.
Right now, Buffalo's Paul Gaustad leads the league with a winning percentage of 69.2 (83 for 120). ... Read more
Who says pro sports athletes aren't role models?
Check out this story courtesy of the Associated Press:
An Idaho junior hockey team was banished temporarily from a city ice rink after players engaged in a game of "strip hockey" — shedding a piece of uniform every time a practice shot missed its mark.
As redress for last Wednesday's incident, Boise forbid the Idaho Junior Steelheads team from using Idaho Ice World for four days; one 17-year-old player who shed his underwear briefly was suspended until next week. In addition, police are investigating, a spokeswoman said Tuesday. ... Read more
Lightning hosts Tampa Bay Fights Cancer Night Thursday at the St. Pete Times Forum
From the team:
The time of the year is back when the Tampa Bay Lightning roll out the yellow carpet for The Yerrid Foundation and a week of Tampa Bay Fights Cancer events. ... Read more
It appears rookie left wing James Wright gets to stay, for now, with the Tampa Bay Lightning
Here is why the 10th game for Tampa Bay Lightning rookie left wing James Wright is so important: If he plays that game, his contract counts for this season. Regardless of whether he is eventually sent back to juniors (and he can still be sent back), a 10th game means he counts one year as a pro. That is key when calculating when a player becomes a free agent.
Having said that, all indications are that Wright, 19, the 117th overall pick of the 2008 draft who has earned a spot on a line with Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis, and who has been perhaps the nicest story of the season so far, is on schedule to play his 10th game Thursday against the Senators.
Wright practiced with the team Tuesday, and coach Rick Tocchet said he expects Wright will be in the lineup. ... Read more
About the bloggers
Follow the Lightning through the season with beat writer Damian Cristodero and the Tampa Bay Times sports staff. We invite your participation in the comments area.
E-mail Damian Cristodero: cristodero@tampabay.com
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