Fill out this form to email this article to a friend

Your name		Your email
Recipient email	You may enter up to 20 multiple email addresses, separated by commas.
Your message
Validation Code	Hear validation code
	Enter validation code

We were unable to send your email.

Click here to try again.

Remembering a season to forget

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
In print: Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Story Tools E-mail this story Contact the editor Print this story Comment on this story Social Bookmarking Digg Facebook Stumbleupon Reddit Del.icio.us Newsvine

ADVERTISEMENT

The 2007-08 Lightning season is in the books, and while it was not one to remember, there are a few things you shouldn't forget:

5 to remember

Lightning 5, Thrashers 2 (Oct. 6, St. Pete Times Forum): Might have been Tampa Bay's best game of the season. Vinny Prospal and Brad Richards each scored twice, the team held a 34-15 shot advantage and won 62 percent of faceoffs.

Lightning 6, Hurricanes 1 (Nov. 14, Times Forum): Vinny Lecavalier had three goals, two assists. Johan Holmqvist made 28 saves and Tampa Bay won its fourth of a five-game winning streak, the season's longest.

Lightning 3, Canadiens 2 (Dec. 11, Bell Centre): Marc Denis was spectacular, making 30 saves and three in a shootout to stop a five-game road losing streak.

Lightning 3, Penguins 0 (Jan. 18, Mellon Arena): Tampa Bay got the secondary scoring it had yearned for as Andre Roy, Chris Gratton and Kyle Wanvig scored while Johan Holmqvist had a 27-save shutout.

Lightning 3, Rangers 0 (March 15, Times Forum): Goalie Mike Smith, forwards Jeff Halpern and Jussi Jokinen and defenseman Alex Picard, all acquired in deadline trades, made contributions and Tampa Bay won three in a row for the first time since January.

5 to forget

Thrashers 4, Lightning 3 (Nov. 19, Philips Arena): Tampa Bay gave away a 3-1 lead with less than six minutes left in the third period and lost in overtime with Brad Richards serving a controversial penalty.

Maple Leafs 6, Lightning 1 (Dec. 10, Air Canada Centre): After Richards was injured, Tampa Bay goalie Johan Holm­qvist allowed four goals on his next seven shots to break open a 0-0 second-period tie.

Flames 9, Lightning 6 (Dec. 13, St. Pete Times Forum): Homqvist allowed four first-period goals on six shots. Marc Denis allowed three third-period goals on eight.

Avalanche 3, Lightning 0 (Jan. 15, Times Forum): Players called the effort "embarrassing" and "brain dead" as they mustered 10 shots through two periods in a fifth straight home loss.

Sabres 7, Lightning 4 (March 19, HSBC Arena): Tampa Bay led 4-1 but allowed six third-period goals. Goalie Karri Ramo allowed five on 15 shots before an empty-netter.

Numbers

0 Victories when trailing after two periods.

24 Losses, including overtime, when tied or leading after two periods.

11 Road victories,

a league low.

74-119 Amount Lightning was outscored in third periods.

138-182 Amount Lightning was outscored playing 5-on-5.

12-20 Record in one-goal games.

3.22, .885 Goals-against average, save percentage, both league lows.

206 Man-games lost to injury, most since 2001-02. (Doesn't include 82 lost by Tim Taylor, on non-roster injury list.

$37.7-million

Salary committed to 17 players for 2008-09.

Contracts

Signed for next season: Goaltenders — Marc Denis ($3-million); Karri Ramo ($725,000), Mike Smith ($950,000). Forwards — Jeff Halpern ($2-million), Jussi Jokinen ($1.875-million), Vinny Lecavalier ($7.167-million), Michel Ouellet ($1.3-million), Marty St. Louis ($5-million), Nick Tarnasky ($525,000), Jason Ward ($700,000). Defensemen — Dan Boyle ($6.17-million); Filip Kuba ($3-million); Brad Lukowich ($1.65-million); Mike Lundin ($738,000); Shane O'Brien ($1.125-million); Paul Ranger ($950,000); Matt Smaby ($825,000).

Restricted free agents: Ryan Craig, C; Alex Picard, D.

Unrestricted free agents: Mathieu Darche, LW; Doug Janik, D; Chris Gratton, C; Andreas Karlsson, C; Craig MacDonald, C; Andre Roy, LW.

Echoes

"It may have been their profile. It may have been the background that they had. But ultimately, we thought they would be really good for the franchise and the city."

Lightning CEO Tom Wilson on Aug. 7 on the proposed sale of the team to Absolute Hockey Enterprises.

"I was looking down and I saw something white. Not a good sight. I'm surprised I didn't pass out."

Defenseman Dan Boyle on seeing his wrist bone after a skate fell from his locker and cut him.

"It is my understanding Dan was clearly told there was no further risk of injury. Dan wanted to play. He said he could deal with the pain if there was no risk. Obviously, there was a risk."

Boyle's agent George Bazos after Boyle re-injured his wrist and needed a second surgery.

"It's nice to have three great players. But if you can't win, maybe you have to make a move."

ESPN analyst Barry Melrose on Vinny Lecavalier, Marty St. Louis and Brad Richards.

"This is the biggest satisfaction I ever had as a hockey player, the biggest. … In a way I hope to shove it up somebody's butt."

Vinny Prospal calling out coach John Tortorella on the St. Pete Times Forum scoreboard.

"I'm not talking about Andre."

Tortorella after Andre Roy, again in the doghouse, was sent home from a road trip.

“A new surrounding wasn't what I wanted at the beginning of the week. But thinking back over the last year and a half, it's been a tough time here with our budget problems and different things going around. It's kind of like getting let out of a cage. I felt handcuffed here. I can't wait for a new start."

Brad Richards after being traded to the Stars.

"We have a fiduciary obligation to act in what we think is the best interest of the hockey club. I suppose to the extent that our recommendations are not the same as his recommendations, then it's something that Tom Wilson is going to have to make a call on."

GM Jay Feaster on prospective buyer Oren Koules.