It was one of those games that were important but not.

It was one of those games where the Lightning could make a statement, but didn’t.

It was one of those games where the Bolts showed flashes of absolute brilliance and periods of mediocrity and borderline boredom.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times… It was a missed opportunity (as Montreal lost) of a seemingly meaningless game.

The regular season is over, the NHL’s second season is about to commence and one has to wonder if we’re going to see more of tonight (and thus a very quick exit from the playoffs) or more of the substance from 2003-2004 that led the Lightning to become Stanley Cup Champions?

Thunderbug has gone camping…

Not out int he woods, not on Caldesi Island or something… No, on the roof of the St. Pete Times Forum until the first round of the playoffs sell out.

Get them early, get them often, and if you can’t — there is always the eight-dollar-day-of-game-ticket deal.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages…

The floor is yours.

The Lightning made the playoffs last night with thanks to the Washington Capitals dismantling of the Atlanta Thrashers. The potential is there for the Lightning to move up from the #8 seed to the 7th if they win tonight and the New Jersey Devils (playing for the Atlantic Division crown) defeat the Montreal Canadiens.

But what do the Lightning want?

I think the general consensus among Lightning fans is that they would prefer to be paired with the Carolina Hurricanes in the 1st round of the playoffs. The Bolts have fared well against the ‘Canes and it would be one hell of a series if the back-to-back games last weekend is any indication.

The other part of that consensus is the Lightning are owned by the Ottawa Senators and it’d be best to avoid them at all costs.

There will be some scoreboard watching, for sure, as the game progresses.

And as a note — Maxime Daigneault has been called up by the Washington Capitals from the ECHL for tonights finale. No word if he’s starting.