Before the 3rd Largest hockey crowd in Times Palace history, the Lightning go to overtime and then send the Islanders to the off season in splendid fashion… Defeating them 3-2.

Frederik Modin — Damnit, if this guy doesn’t wear the C when Andreychuk steps down or retires, it’s a crime I tell you. Both fo Tampa Bay’s 2nd period goals resulted in crucial Modin assists. Tim Taylor and Ruslan Fedotenko notched the goals themselves but without Modin’s balls-to-the-wall plays, there wouldn’t have been a chance.

And in Overtime? Who else do you look to besides Martin St. Louis? Team MVP, possible Hart Trophy winner, Lester B. Pearson candidate, Selke trophy winner and of coruse the guy who sent the Isles back to Nassau County with a slap shot that went over DiPietro’s right shoulder.

Hats off to the Islanders for playing one hell of a series, no matter what the outcome this was great hockey….

:woot :woot :woot :woot :woot

Round Two of the Stanley Cup playoffs is coming your way in a matter of days as Operation Andreychuk’s Cup gears up for the conference Semi Finals

Well, Vancouver has become the first division winner to be pushed to the brink of elimination, as the Flames are hoping to upset the West’s #3 seed at home, in front of perhaps the loudest fans in the playoffs. Apologies to any Nashville fans out there…

The reason for the Canuck’s imminent demise is shown in the +/- rankings. Vancouver has scored one true 5 on 5 goal in five games. The resulting +/- more resembles the scores you would find at the PGA’s Greater Vancouver Open. Not a single player on the Canucks roster is a plus player. Looks like the Canucks have golf in their heads:

Sopel -5
Ohlund -5
Ruutu -3
Naslund -3
Rucisnsky -2
Keane -2
May -2
Chubarov -2

I wonder if Palace Sports and Entertainment would even look into the possibility of adding a feature like this to the St. Pete Times Forum? Long have I wanted something that sets the arena apart from other NHL venues and makes it more home-like for the Bolts (thunder when a goal is scored? Etc) and this little “pyrotechic” isn’t banned by the league…

…yet :smile

“Thunderdome” circa 1996

St. Pete Times Forum, AKA Ice Palace, AKA Times Palace — 2004 Playoffs

Things of beauty — sold out arenas and hockey…. :smile

ESPN Has an article heralding the Southeast division for it’s bright future… stating that the division could very well be a beast in 10 years time with the Lightning leading the way… And in a lot of ways I agree with them as I do think Florida is about to turn the corner and Atlanta is already on the verge… Carolina is an underachiever a little too often and Washington is rebuilding.

The biggest disagreement I had with this article was about Vincent Lecavalier being a future scoring title holder and Hart Trophy candidate… As of right now, I see Vinny as a solid center but if there is anyone on the Lightning that is a future Hart trophy candidate and Scoring title winner — it’s Brad Richards. He has not wavered and has been consistent since coming into the league and being a runner up for the Calder Trophy several years ago. If he showed more grit and was a Penalty Kill mainstay, he’d rank up there with St. Louis as a great all around player.