Well, after the I told you so of game #4….

The pressure is on to put another nail in the coffin — but when the pressure has been on for the Bolts to perform, they’ve faultered.

…I’m wondering if Marty is being pompous?:

Still, he was the 2004 regular-season MVP, so it was notable when St. Louis said, “I agree,” when someone mentioned they believed his overall game is better than his Hart Trophy season.

“I have more experience, more maturity,” St. Louis, 31, said. “I know the level I have to go to in the playoffs to help the team win.”

He backs it up on ice but still — these aren’t always the types of stories you want to hear going into a clutch game.

…and if the Lightning will continue their in-season trend and drop another crucial game when things still are open season? We find out tonight…

Would you characterize this as the Lightning’s game to lose? Not I.

Martin Brodeur has been challenged. He either must raise his game or get out of the way. Vincent Lecavalier getitng into Brodeur’s head may or may not be the truth. Tonights game will prove or disprove the notion if Brodeur rises or falls to the occasion.

The Lightning need another complete roster effort and that will be tltimate deciding factor. For the New Jersey fans out there — this is where I hold my doubts. The Lightning have had several situations this season where they have seemed to be on a roll and then — crashed, burned and looked nothing like they are capable. The pressure is on to put another nail in the coffin — but when the pressure has been on for the Bolts to perform, they’ve faultered.

Here’s hoping for the Lightning to beat that trend and head back to jersey with a commanding 3-1 advantage in this best-of-seven series.

Jibber Jabber and all that jazz related to the game.

“Thunderdome” circa 1996

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

Things of beauty — sold out arenas and hockey…

This isn’t the type of story I like to see tied to playoffs at all…

You know what, guys? It’s one thing to piss on people’s colors with good natured ribbing, it’s also for the good of a country for there to be political debate - even the heated ones — over any issue for the sake of the Nation you live in…

But to come to this — to go to blows just to put down he opposition? You’re not only pissing on your own colors (in this case, showing the Vancouver Canucks in a terrible light) but you are pissing on your community, on the sport you attended as well as yourself.

There’s no room in Sports or anything else for this shit. You take the fun out of the game when you make it unsafe for people of an opposing team to attend a game in your own house. I expect this in Philadelphia, or Oakland, but not Vancouver…