John Tortorella went so far as to say the Lightning need to retool which is addressing the obvious. Any team that fails to make it all the way certainly need to be ready to change things around a tad or more in order to find the ideal circumstances.

The problem with the rest of the TSN article addressing the Lightning’s off-season needs is that it goes right around a major problem for the Lightning that was exploited during the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals:

The abysmal state of special teams and suspect defense.

Oh, I am not going to try to make excuses for Burke or Grahame and play them up like they are ideal netminders. Nor am I going to talk down about the other key issue that TSN addressed: Brad Richards restricted free agency.

But the questions on defense and also on special teams have loomed over the Lightning since the pre-season. John Tortorella was not satisfied with a 6th defensiveman until later in the year as Paul Ranger stepped up during his rookie season. That doesn’t even begin to account for the loses on ice with the subtraction of Jassen Cullimore and Brad Lukowich on the blue line.

Both goalies were hung out to dry at times by the defense, and lapses lead to breakdowns on special teams over and over again.

Do the Lightning plan to look for a netminder this offseason? undoubtedly. Is it their priority when retooling? I don’t believe it is as much as on defense (where Pavel Kubina and Cory Sarich could both jump ship).

Sean Burke started. Not much changed in front of the net though… Or in the net, as the Senators again proved they had the machismo, the swagger and the downright hunger that the Lightning have lacked for a majority of the 2005-06 campaign.

There was a plethora of points to talk about… But honestly, there’s nothing left to talk about. The 2003-04 Stanley Cup Champions have been bounced from Cup contention. It’s no surprise to the Lightning faithful, nor were the comments from John Grahame or John Tortorella surprising in the latter days.

It’s another disappointing end to this disappointing season (the regular season’s ending was terrible as well).

Congratulations to the Ottawa Senators, Chris at Hockey Country and the fans. Martin Havlat has got to be the leading Conn Smythe candidate at current. I also greatly admire Wade Redden for his play through such a trying time. Hopefully, he’ll be able to pay ample tribute to his mother while playing for (or raising) Lord Stanley’s Cup.

3-2 — the Ottawa Senators advance to the Eastern Conference Semi-finals. A foresee a very bitter ordeal with Les Habitants in the next round. We’ll know soon enough.

As for me? Well, I gotta take a few days off from Boltsmag… Probably less if there is player movement right out of the gate here in Tampa (the hot stove is my favorite time of year). After the 2004 campaign, the lockout and this season — I’m beat. Of course, the sports world waits for no one so I’m not likely to keep my vow very long.

There isn’t more to go on, as this story has been told.

The floor is yours.

Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Weekly has an article and interview up today about Lightning prospect Mark Tobin (who is another alum of the QMJHL’s Rimouski Oceanic).

Not the greatest piece — you can see most of Mark’s answers summarized in a lead-up to his responses — but worth a look if you interested in Lightning prospects.

For a period and a few minutes, the Lightning and Senators were going toe to toe. For a period and a few minutes, this looked like an epic in the making.

But emotions started running high on ice and instead of letting the game progress uninterrupted, there was somewhat of a rare occurrence:

The officials stepped in.

And after a few failed power play attempts by both teams, the Senators notched one, then another, then another, then another. In the span of a period and a half, the Senators scored 4 unanswered goals and the Lightning were shell shocked. They were flat-out schooled (again) by the Senators.

This time, you weren’t distracted by the sideshow of emotions running high out there. This time, you actually saw a hockey game with one team playing with more skill, determination, machismo and chaputz while the other played absent-mindedly and lackluster. This time, the game wasn’t ruled by “let’em play and the chips will fall where they may” bullshit from Kerry Fraser and crew.

It was an NHL playoff game and a resounding defeat at the hands of the Ottawa Senators. That’s all there is to it.

In the final minutes of what may very likely be the final home game of the 2005-06 Lightning season, the once-rocking home crowd were aloof and the silence was deafening. While the hunger of rookie Paul Ranger was clearly evident, it was also clearly evident the fire was out for the majority of the Lightning roster. The camera panned the Lightning bench during a stoppage in the games waning moments and you could see the roster tuckered out and searching for something, anything, to rally around.

…just as it’s been the case more times than not since the Olympic Break concluded.

5-2 the final at Times Palace. Ottawa hosts game five on Saturday at 6:30 PM. The Lightning’s goals were scored by Martin St. Louis and Brad Richards (both of whom owe huge credit to the aforementioned Ranger). Both goals can be argued up and down — did Marty interfer with Emery? Should Richards have been sent to the box along with Eaves? — but matter little in the end.

Anyone remember Delmon Young demanding money from reporters who wished to interview him?

Oh wait, it gets better as Delmon is looking at a suspension for throwing his bat at an umpire. (view the video in the upper right hand corner of the page)

Someone needs to send this kid a message he’s gotta get himself under control.

Lots of people are expressing doubt after the drubbing Tuesday night… One of those people is not former Lightning captain Dave Andreychuk:

“I know the guys,” he said.

Dave Andreychuk stopped wearing the Bolt in early January, when he was placed on waivers by the Lightning. He’s still being paid his contract, and he’ll eventually work for the club in another capacity.

Tuesday he was a fan. And a symbol.

“We can come back,” he said.

Martin Fennelly’s piece goes on… Speaking of how Dave’s influence still reigns over the Lightning — he talks to players regularly, though Tuesday’s game was his first at Times Palace since the end of his tenure on the Lightning roster.

Sens lead the series 2-1. Lightning’s backs are to the wall.. Which team shows up tonight? The Stanley Cup Champs or the 2005-06 “Close but not quite” Lightning?

And how infractions (from members of both teams folks, I’m not a raging homer) does the officiating crew chose not to call tonight?

The floor is yours.

As always — keep it civil.

For the second straight game, the National Hockey League has decided to throw rule enforcement out. For the second straight game, Gary Bettman’s threat of rule enforcement rang hollow.

Hey, at least I’m consistent in talking about the problem plaguing the Conference Quarterfinals. You can’t get something like that (consistency) from NHL officials.

I know I should be talking about the game downright slaughter on ice tonight. I’m bitter though. Not just bitter at the loss, but bitter at the sham of first period, where referees had no control of the game and seemed grudgingly to try to get control when chaos and anarchy ensued.

Oh wait, it gets better!

Kerry and the boys got bored in the 2nd period and decide to start messing with things some more by not doing anything. Lets start with Ryan Craig taking a puck in the face from an errant pass. A player goes down after a puck in the face — you have the potential of a devastating injury and what is the deal? Play continues.

That’s right, play continues. No whistle. No nothing. Watch the replays and you see Zedeno Chara standing behind Craig as if the play is dead… It’s after a moment things haven’t been stopped that he finally gets going again.

And then there is the case of Ruslan Fedotenko and Chris Neil. Rusty play the puck close to Ray Emery, there is a good bit of traffic in front of the net and some contact because of it. Typical defense of your goaltender by the Senators players in front of the net… Well, except Chris Neil.

Neil isn’t exactly in front of the net. He’s close by and when he sees contact, he charges in on Fedotenko, shoving Fedotenko into Ray Emery. All hell breaks loose from that point on…

With Neil only pulling in 2 minutes for the charge. This is after he threatened Sean Burke with retaliation for Ruslan “running” Emery. This comes after Neil flicks off fans.

I’m bitter that the Lightning lost, that we got downright schooled by the Senators… But I’m sick and f’n tired of the antics of the “officials” who are supposed to maintain order on ice. Kerry Fraser and his team aren’t maintaining shit. They’re making the crew from game 2 look like sticklers for the rules — and that’s saying something!

Look, the outcome of the game would be different if the rules were actually followed. It’d be a hockey game and not this farce that was supposed to resemble hockey.

The Sens might kill us worse in a regulation game where order was maintained by the officials… I really wouldn’t mind that (that’s right, I wouldn’t mind it) in part because the game would have proper enforcement of the rules. The better team would truly win and assclowns like Chris Neil wouldn’t be a factor. The skill of Martin Havlat would be the focus and further accentuated, or Dany Heatly’s machismo, Martin St. Louis’ deftness or Brad Richards total game. In other words - the players and their performance would be the focus, as it’s supposed to be.

Instead, the officials are doing what they always do and grabbing the spotlight by trying not to do anything.

Game 4 is Thursday. Don’t be surprised when Kerry makes sure more of the same bullshit is the norm for that one.

We’re all tied up… Let the action re-commence

Fans of both teams are welcome to comment, but keep it civil. Flaming, trolling or other disruptive behavior will not be tolerated.