all we need is marty
- RileyB77

Really? How many points has he had lately? Hmmmm.....
This (frank)ing team would NOT be where it is without Bishop, period.

stamkos will be back before end of the season....

who pissed in your cereal this morning?
- RileyB77

You and Clicker. Short sightedness drives me (frank)ing crazy. Montreal is ALWAYS getting outshot. Just wait till Anahiem shows up at the TBTF on Thursday.

You and Clicker. Short sightedness drives me (frank)ing crazy. Montreal is ALWAYS getting outshot. Just wait till Anahiem shows up at the TBTF on Thursday.
- Artyukhin76

I didn't piss in anyones cereal, im in Canada

the only thing I said was 45 shots is not cause of bishop, I guess that was enough to set you off

marty will step up

Anaheim? you mean the team FLA just beat?

1 game is all we have to go by in determining how the team will continue on without stamkos because 1 game is all we were given this far, and they played extremely well. well enough to win 5-0 . it was a good game and we hope things continue to stay the same, no reason to be so upset over that

their shots for/against per nhl.com indicates they average 30 shots on net, and 31 against. we surpassed the shots against by a large margin even without OT, and held them to 25? shots..

Really? How many points has he had lately? Hmmmm.....
This (frank)ing team would NOT be where it is without Bishop, period.
- Artyukhin76

nor would they be where they are without all of our D and 1st/2nd/3rd/4th line

I didn't piss in anyones cereal, im in Canada

the only thing I said was 45 shots is not cause of bishop, I guess that was enough to set you off

marty will step up

Anaheim? you mean the team FLA just beat?

1 game is all we have to go by in determining how the team will continue on without stamkos because 1 game is all we were given this far, and they played extremely well. well enough to win 5-0 . it was a good game and we hope things continue to stay the same, no reason to be so upset over that

their shots for/against per nhl.com indicates they average 30 shots on net, and 31 against. we surpassed the shots against by a large margin even without OT, and held them to 25? shots..
- RileyB77

I know Fla beat Ana, but even a blind squirrel can find a nut. Doesn't mean anything.

their shots for/against per nhl.com indicates they average 30 shots on net, and 31 against. we surpassed the shots against by a large margin even without OT, and held them to 25? shots..
- RileyB77

Don't confuse him with the facts he has his mind made up...we suck!

i'm not trying to argue with anyone on here, I'm just trying not to get so pessimistic about our franchise going forth w/o steven stamkos. yes it is probably the biggest loss any NHL team could suffer, but SO FAR (yes, small sample size arty is right on this one) things have been great, and we hope they continue to go as planned,

Don't confuse him with the facts he has his mind made up...we suck!
- Clicker

Hi Boston fan in Lightning colors. We don't suck, but to say after one game we areas good is just stupid.

i'm not trying to argue with anyone on here, I'm just trying not to get so pessimistic about our franchise going forth w/o steven stamkos. yes it is probably the biggest loss any NHL team could suffer, but SO FAR (yes, small sample size arty is right on this one) things have been great, and we hope they continue to go as planned,
- RileyB77

I hope so to, but to say that Bishop isn't the biggest key to what's happened and what will happen is just (frank)ing nuts.

I hope so to, but to say that Bishop isn't the biggest key to what's happened and what will happen is just (frank)ing nuts.
- Artyukhin76

him & defense

stamkos will be back before end of the season....

who pissed in your cereal this morning?
- RileyB77

We really have no idea. Best case scenario is that he's back in time for the Olympics. Worst case is that he's out for the season.

To me the best case scenario that I am hoping for is that he doesn't play in the Olympics and takes that month of February to be ready for the final 24 games of the season. 14 of those games are at the Forum where he always produces and help the team make the playoff push.

A friend of mine broke his left tibia in two spots in a bike accident, he had to have a rod inserted similar to Stamkos had done. He is much older and much more out of shape then Stammer. He was almost back to normal in everyday activity in 3 months. I know each injury is different but that is why my logic says he can be ready for March if he trains in Tampa instead of going to Sochi.

We really have no idea. Best case scenario is that he's back in time for the Olympics. Worst case is that he's out for the season.
- Michael_Stuart

We really have no idea. Best case scenario is that he's back in time for the Olympics. Worst case is that he's out for the season.
- Michael_Stuart

I don't care about the Olympics ! He is a Lightning player and needs to focus on being ready for our season. I know it's every players dream to play for there country, but he has a commitment to us.

Really? How many points has he had lately? Hmmmm.....
This (frank)ing team would NOT be where it is without Bishop, period.
- Artyukhin76

Nope it wouldnt, but either would it have been without Stammer. The bolts sit atop of the EC, but are they really the best team in the east? I say they arent. The team has over performed this far, but with Stamkos and Bishop they would surely be a playoff contender. With only one of them, they might squeeze in if the rest of the team puts a 100% effort on a nightly basis.

Bishop has been truely great, and everything we boltsfans been missing for a long time in a goaltender. But to say that we are where we are today just because of him (or Stamkos) , is really disrespectfull to the rest of the team and staff.

Nope it wouldnt, but either would it have been without Stammer. The bolts sit atop of the EC, but are they really the best team in the east? I say they arent. The team has over performed this far, but with Stamkos and Bishop they would surely be a playoff contender. With only one of them, they might squeeze in if the rest of the team puts a 100% effort on a nightly basis.

Bishop has been truely great, and everything we boltsfans been missing for a long time in a goaltender. But to say that we are where we are today just because of him (or Stamkos) , is really disrespectfull to the rest of the team and staff.
- Cloud

It was Stamkos and Bishop that got us here. The others were part of it, but the key now is Bishop.

Hi Boston fan in Lightning colors. We don't suck, but to say after one game we areas good is just stupid.
- Artyukhin76

I could not be more anti all things Boston than I am, that comment really hurt.
Listen, I'm not saying we will come in first in the east but for you to say Bishop is the ONLY reason we are where we are is .....well stupid. I never said we were just as good I just argued your point that we were basically done without Stammer. There is a ton of talent on this team. If they pull together and work hard The playoffs are still within reach. Some youngsters should see this as it is...a great opportunity to cement a spot on the team. They have talent, now they need to work hard every night and pull together. Old saying comes to mind...there is no I in team. One player does not make a team. Pens played pretty well without Crosby if I remember right. It's gonna take hard work but it can be done. I hope they prove you wrong. By the way, Bishop rocks!!

It was Stamkos and Bishop that got us here. The others were part of it, but the key now is Bishop.
- Artyukhin76

Cooper & Co on the bench,

It was Stamkos and Bishop that got us here. The others were part of it, but the key now is Bishop.
- Artyukhin76

everyone got us here, depth

We really have no idea. Best case scenario is that he's back in time for the Olympics. Worst case is that he's out for the season.
- Michael_Stuart

according to ongoing speculations, which are just that - speculations, you're right but chances are hes back before april, we hope

It was Stamkos and Bishop that got us here. The others were part of it, but the key now is Bishop.
- Artyukhin76

Arty is there something you're not telling us ? Sounds like one hell of a bromance going on here. Lol there are 23 reasons plus 3 coaches as to where we are- ranked by Coop, Stammer, Bishop, Marty, Filp to top the list. If we weren't playing a good D system we would be hanging Bishop out to dry like every other goalie before him. Is Bishop aBroduer yet no but it's a good start. Only 121 shutouts to go. Lol

Arty is there something you're not telling us ? Sounds like one hell of a bromance going on here. Lol there are 23 reasons plus 3 coaches as to where we are- ranked by Coop, Stammer, Bishop, Marty, Filp to top the list. If we weren't playing a good D system we would be hanging Bishop out to dry like every other goalie before him. Is Bishop aBroduer yet no but it's a good start. Only 121 shutouts to go. Lol
- tpd11

I can't count on one hand how many times this team has (frank)ing vanished on bishop and we've won so don't start that poop. Is this team better.... Yes. Have they cotributed to our success.... Yes. How-(frank)ing-ever, not only has Bishop given us a chance to win most games (he's had a couple WTF games), but he gives this team confidence and swagger that we haven't had since 2003-2004. Cooper is an awesome coach, but this is from his own mouth:


1 day ago
@JohnLuTSNMtl: #TBLightning Jon Cooper's ingredients for a successful coach: "An understanding wife, a loyal dog and one hell of a goalie".

well we can all agree on one thing: something you just said

we have swagger, confidence, and we are on top, and we are enjoying it and thriving, so lets enjoy it

well we can all agree on one thing: something you just said

we have swagger, confidence, and we are on top, and we are enjoying it and thriving, so lets enjoy it
- RileyB77

We can agree on that. Everything else.... I'm right.

We can agree on that. Everything else.... I'm right.
- Artyukhin76

Sure, lol

Arty is there something you're not telling us ? Sounds like one hell of a bromance going on here. Lol there are 23 reasons plus 3 coaches as to where we are- ranked by Coop, Stammer, Bishop, Marty, Filp to top the list. If we weren't playing a good D system we would be hanging Bishop out to dry like every other goalie before him. Is Bishop aBroduer yet no but it's a good start. Only 121 shutouts to go. Lol
- tpd11

As good as Bishop has been, (and he has been very good) and as good as Stamkos has been (great, just like he was last season and the season before), the new philosophy the Cooper staff brought in is a big part of the turnaround. Notice the difference in defence? Its not Gudas, or Carle or Hedman, its the way the WHOLE team contributes. Its called team defence. The last many years, we let our goalies hung out to die, and our dmen as well because our forwards werent participating as much in their own zone. Look how much better Stamkos looks on the defensive end. Hes a full player now. The team defense Cooper and Bowness implemented are a big reason why Bishop is doing as well as he is.