This heads up just for those Bolts fans looking for 2004 Playoff Schedules at current:

With seedings still in question in several cases, the league can’t jump up and say which teams will play where yet. it’s assumed that, after Saturday’s finale against the Thrashers, the Lightning will not play until Thursday or Friday. The opponent — as it stands tonight — looks to be the New York Islanders but the Buffalo Sabres still have an outside chance of stealing the #8 seed from them.

Playoff Schedules will be revealed probably this weekend, if not Monday.

The Lightning are out of the running for the Presidents Trophy which the Detroit Red Wings have clinched. This may or may not be an excellent thing to have happen. The Presidents’ Trophy, presented to the NHL in 1985-86 by the League Board of Governors to recognize the team compiling the top regular-season record. In case of a tie, the team with the most wins, is considered cursed in some circles as only 6 of the teams that have won the award have gone on to win the Stanley Cup (’87 Oilers, ‘89 Flames, ‘94 Rangers, ‘99 Stars, ‘01 Avalanche, ‘02 Red Wings). Only a third of the 18 previous winners.

So dread not Presidents’ Trophy Loss, it may very well be the Lightning’s gain.

Speaking of Trophy gains — the Lightning, by winning the season series with the Florida Panthers — have won the Nextel Cup.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Fredrik Modin notched his 57th point which is a career high. Martin St. Louis’ 15th short handed goal as a Bolt surpassed Rob Zamnuer for the team record.

And one more goal sets the all time single season record for goals scored for the Bolts — which is all but assured (barring over-the-top intense play by the Thrashers) on Saturday.

With the playoffs approaching and Dave hinting at another season in the NHL, it is no surprise that Andreychuk’s determination and keep-on-chugging attitude has caught people’ attention.

And in this case, it’s all the right people.

Dave was nominated for the Bill Masterton Trophy, given annually to an NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Dave, of course, follows those traits to a T.

So far, Alexander Daigle and Joe Nieuwendyk among others nominated for the award.

Vinny doesn’t want to sit around while Bob Goodenow and Gary Bettman battle the duel-of-the-egos.

In a St. Petersburg Times article this morning, Lecavalier said his agent Kent Hughes is exploring European Opportunities for Vinny. This is most likely quietly happening throughout the league in preparation for a lengthy work stoppage.

This is not good news for Tampa Bay fans simply due to the risk fact. I don’t blame Vinny for looking at all options and I know if I was in his shoes I would b doing exactly the same, but from a standpoint of risk ,the chance the first-line forward could be injured in European play worries me to no end.

It’s another reason in a long list of reasons why the NHL and the Players union need to stop posturing themselves and start dealing. The fans are going to be screwed over by this once again, as all labor-stoppages in pro-sports tend to do.