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“We know what we’re up against. We’re the
underdog, we’ve said that. I am not saying it now to make a point, but it’s dead-on true.

“We’re the little team that wasn’t supposed to be here, and a lot of people don’t want us to be here and to make sure that we’re not successful. We know that.”

You thijnk you’re the only case, Darryl? Yes, the Flames have a lot of adversity and a lot of anger after game 4, but please don’t label yourselves at the only team in these finals that the League office didn’t want in the Stanley Cup final.

The Bolts have been conviently painted as the pansies each series they have been in, and it’s been widely circulated we’re half of who the League never wanted to see in the final unless there was a big name against us.

So now the League has to pick the lesser of two evils and if youw ant to give a big “fuck you” to league execs for finding either team “evil”, you’ve got my full support…. But please don’t paint it like you’re the only team the didn’t want in the finals.

If the league is indeed “helping” the Lightning win the cup just because, say, we’re an American team… Then yes, there’s a big problem. But then again. there’s a big problem if the league tried to keep us down throughout the playoffs just because we’re in a non-traditional market. You can’t say that for Calgary…

Tampa nd Calgary are wunderkinds — it’s not just Calgary. No one saw either team making it this far and you know what? Screw the guys who have a problem with it.

The league needs a wake up call and instead of bitching about the series outcome, we should be bitching about how this wakeup call hasn’t been deleivered with the Pass the Friggin’ Torch Tour — aka this Stanley Cup matchup.

From 620 WDAE

In an effort to try and create even more atmosphere at the St. Pete Times Forum, and maybe to try and trump the sea of red at Calgary’s Saddledome, the Lightning announced on Wednesday that Game 5 will be a “White Out” at the Forum. Every fan attending the game will receive a “White Out” T-shirt compliments of Bright House Networks.

All right, I admit it - I’ve stuck my foot in my mouth and of course Keith is already giving me shit with regards to this.

You see, a couple of weeks ago for all you non-regular readers, Keith had brought up the un-originality of the “Orange Crush” that Philadelphia employed during games at the Wachovia Center.

I went along with it, in fact I ridiculed Philly pretty bad for lack of support of the Orange Crush concept and how the team had to give out shirts.

Now the Lightning are doing it — which is imitating countless franchises before us that have imitated Calgary’s “C of Red”. That’s pretty sad. :mad I apologize for criticizing Philly - as we have now sunk to your level :-p

Instigator? I love thee!

Attention Calgary Fans: Try not to riot, please.over this news.

“Nieminen used his forearm to deliver a forceful hit from behind to the head of his opponent,” NHL director of hockey operations Colin Campbell said. “This hit was more severe than any of the other plays that were brought to our attention during the final.

“This was a hit that clearly crossed the line and was directed at the head. Even if Lecavalier is able to play in Game 5, this type of hit must be subject to supplemental discipline.”

And in news certain to piss off members of my staff here at Boltsmag, though still listed as Day-today, Vincent Lecavalier will likely play in Game 5 (though still listed as uncertain in the above article).

How do you entertain a bunch of Hockey fans waiting in the heat before game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals?

Play a Trick on them, i mean a really Cheap Trick :wink

So there will be a concert before the game, and Cheap Trick’s lead singer will be performing the National Anthem (which is good news for Flames fans as the Lightning have only lost once when Brooke Bollea — AKA Brooke Hogan — has performed that National Anthems and her father riled the crowed up before the game. This change of pace might hurt things :tongue ).

Also, for those who cannot get tickets for the game, the above article states that the 80 foot screen will be used during the game again so those who want to watch in the Plaza adjacent to Times Palace can do so.

“That 5 on 3 was bullshit on Monday! That’s the reason why the Lightning beat the Flames! Stupid Kerry Frazer!”

Lets review this, shall we? Tampa Bay got a 5 on 3 extremely early in the game and converted to make it 1-0. The Calgary Flames had 57 minutes — basically the entire game — to score once to tie the game.

And yet I find more Calgary fans who make the statement that the Lightning didn’t deserve to win that game and that it was handed to them by the Refs. Well, here’s a newsflash - neither did Calgary with how they played on ice.

Keith and me argued Monday night after he attended the game at Saddledome and one thing was for certain that we could agree on at the end: The game was garbage from top to bottom. Of course, I would think that Calgary fans wouldn’t bring up the crappiness of the game if they were the ones who won… Instead? They’re complaining about Kerry Frazer (nice toupee Kerry, now go join Dick Clark as the oldest wanna’ be teenager) and one call that resulted in a score. It sucks, but stop whining about it already and focus on game 5….

(…or, to the pathetic media in Calgary, stop trying to slander Tampa to make up for the fact that this Southern Hockey franchise is tied with “Canada’s Team” in the Stanley Cup Finals, all because you don’t know how else to re-assure the fans that they and their team are better than the Lightning)