No offense intended, Darren, but this sucks.

Craig Ramsey will undergo prostate surgery prostate surgery on Friday in an effort to deal with early stages of prostate cancer. Darren Rumble, former perpetual healthy-scratch defensiveman for the Lightning and current Springfield Falcons coach has been promoted to the Bolts for immediate fill in purposes.

There has been a lingering worry of mine something was up with Craig Ramsey - as if he was worried or not focused on the task of coaching with the Lightning this year… As if he was letting one thing or another slip through due to this worry. Now my fears have been realized that something was indeed wrong with Rammer — who already has had his stomach removed in order to deal with ulcers, and almost died dealing with things before the removal — and all I can do now is hope and pray that he gets well soon.

Tampa Bay Lightning fans are with you, Coach Ramsey.

In 2003-04, you watched the Lightning and if there was a one-goal defict going into even the final minute fo the game, you had this sense that the Lightning still had a chance. The Lightning could lay you flat and beat the hell out of you or just barely stay with you until that final period - then come back to win it.

You don’t see that in 2005-06. It’s not even close.

While fans continue optimistic predictions, waiting for the Lightning to just have their lop-sided, “return to form” game, they keep getting into situations like they were in tonight: tie game going into the third, they give up a go-ahead goal and can’t quite produce to tie the game one last time — or take the victory for that matter. And almost always they are victims of the empty net goal during a failed comback attempt..

In another loss (where Rob DiMaio played like a madman once again) the Lightning left fans hanging again as they went into the 3rd period and could not convert when it counted. That’s not trying to put down Hannu Toivonen’s spectacular effort in goal - including a fantastic display during a flurry on the Bruin goal latein the third - and his 32 saves… This is putting down the Lightning’s luck yet again.

2-1 the final at Times Palace tonight. Wayne Primeau decided to celebrate returning to Tampa with a goal. Patrice Bergeron scores the Game Winner at 12:49 of the third… Rob Dimaio was named one of the three stars of the game and Sean Burke started between teh pipes — allowing 2 goals on 24 shots.

24 shots, two games in a row. 24 shots and still the Lightning (who have taken some 70+ shots over those two games) can’t put together a win.

Inquire within

Joe Tasca, writing for Off Wing Opinion a few weeks ago, started talking about Howard Baldwin’s attempts to bring back hockey to the City of Hartford, Connecticut…

Well, someone else is talking about Howard Baldwin right now and it sure isn’t pretty… It sure IS funny though.

Chris Dingman has been waived by the Lightning and Darren Reid re-assigned to Springfield of the AHL…

…

…

…I’m searching for another line here with a positive spin but that’s not coming to me. The Lightning reverted to mediocrity and John Grahame allowed 4 goals on 24 shots as Les Habs ended their 9 game road losing streak. The Lightning peppered Jose Theodore with 44 shots but… shit, what’s the point? We lost… Someone makes an excuse or looks toward another reasoning for the up-and-downs of Lightning hockey and que sera sera…

A couple of nifty saves does not excuse poor play the rest of the time. Hell, John Tortorella knows it:

“I am (upset) at what is happening there because I thought our team played very well tonight. And this has gone on for quite a while. Is there other options out there? We can’t do (anything).”

Everything in parenthesis is a nice word substituted for John’s colorful metaphors… Personally I’d rather see the colorful metaphors…

Pavel Kubina scored his 100th career point, Vincent Lecavalier notched #15 on the year and Ryan Craig continued his rookie antics with a goal…

…but the seive at the other end of the ice was the difference once again…

John Tortorella isn’t comfortable holding onto 23 players, the Lightning are bumping their heads on the cap…

Jay Feaster is pressed to do something but what? Demote Reid? Doesn’t solve enough problems. try to move Afanasenkov to the minors? Many might deem that a worthy waiver risk. Make a trade? Who for and involvng whom? Generic answers would involve Lightning bit players (or Daryl Sydor) and would likely be seeking defensive help or a goalie in return… Mind you, I say those are generic answers as Lightning fans should know that getting a Goalie is not going to be an easy task via trade…

What I’m not sure about is Lightning property and if there is a market for players playing overseas….

Whatta ya do, Jack? Whatta ya do?

Pavel Kubina is dressed and on ice for tonights game versus Carolina…

And you know what? I messed up. No defensivemen were promoted after Kubina’s injury because the NHL roster freeze was in effect…

May each and every one of you have a great day today. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays…

I don’t know who to be angrier at — fate or Jay Feaster.

Pavel Kubina goes down with a groin injury and doesn’t play last night’s hockey game. The Lightning dress five deensivement and lose after one of them (Pratt) is penalized.

Tonight? Nolan Pratt suffers an injury during the 1st period and a depleted defensive core, playing for the 2nd night straight, is down to four defensivemen…. 2 pairs expected to cover the full of the game.

The Lightning have three AHL0level forwards contributing right now and 3 NHL veterans riding the pine… There is depth at forward is what I am trying to underline here. The Lightning carry only 6 defensivemen on their roster to begin with. No spares. Why wasn’t someone called up and Reid, Craig or Artuhkin sent down?

A loss tonight may be looked at as bad luck, as a tough loss, as disappointing. It can also be looked at as helped along by negligence in the front office.

UPDATE: Pratt back out on ice - yet I stand by my comments

Lecavalier suspended for one game…

The Lightning trailed late in the second period when Lecavalier scored an apparent goal on a deflection in the slot. But the goal was waved off because Lecavalier had hit Rangers center Dominic Moore in the face with a high stick. He was assessed a minor penalty and will miss Tampa Bay’s game against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday.

Right, and next Nolan Pratt is going to be suspended for 14 games for disrupting the 3rd period of the Rangers game…

I really should hold my snide remarks to myself on this, I missed the non-goal and penalty…