Michael Stuart: Stamkos Shines as Lightning Defeat Panthers in a Shootout

Just get the season started already.

Just get the season started already.
- vinnybolt4life

You're telling me you don't enjoy the mindless fun we call preseason?

Just ready for real hockey, been a long summer.

Just ready for real hockey, been a long summer.
- vinnybolt4life

I know the feeling. It's been a long time. I have enjoyed the preseason just because it's allowed me to blog everyday. I love the routine.

But now there's time off....

That game was full of this teams old bad habits. 3 games left and I hope Coooper can shake that out of them.

4-0 is a good preseason , but arty is right...when reading ur blog i was thinking the same thing ..

i royally (frank)ed my draft but ended up getting not too bad of a team...i never drafted before and spent all my money on my first 4 guys lol

what the (frank)s with the lack of lightning highlights on nhl.com....theres highlights for all the (frank)ing faVORITES

Malone Stamkos St. Louis
Killorn Filppula Purcell
Palat Johnson Connolly
Crombeen Thompson Panik
(Labre/Pyatt)

Hedman Salo
Carle Gudas
Brewer Aulie <---- this line worries me a little
Baberio

Lindback
Bishop

what the (frank)s with the lack of lightning highlights on nhl.com....theres highlights for all the (frank)ing faVORITES
- RileyB77

RED. HEADED. STEPCHILD.

I think people are counting out Drouin too early... we have to see him on the wing first, that is his natural position where he is comfortable and less nervous..the guy has a significant amount of skill and I think will make a lot of noise towards the end of the preseason

I think people are counting out Drouin too early... we have to see him on the wing first, that is his natural position where he is comfortable and less nervous..the guy has a significant amount of skill and I think will make a lot of noise towards the end of the preseason
- RileyB77

Not at all! I just look at the facts:
Malone has chemistry with Stamkos and St. Louis.
Having three play makers on the second line is redundant.
I could see him playing with Johnson and Connolly giving us 3 scoring lines.
He would be wasted on the fourth line.

Both CDJ and Helenius cleared waivers.

Malone Stamkos St. Louis
Killorn Filppula Purcell
Palat Johnson Connolly
Crombeen Thompson Panik
(Labre/Pyatt)

Hedman Salo
Carle Gudas
Brewer Aulie <---- this line worries me a little
Baberio

Lindback
Bishop
- Artyukhin76

... but what to do with Drouin? The Lightning are going to give him his 9 game tryout so one of Panik/Labrie/Pyatt wont be there to start the season, unless they are allowed to carry an "injured" scratch.

Stamkos only had three shots on goal but Malone had seven. I love this line with Marty but Stammer should be taking more shots.

... but what to do with Drouin? The Lightning are going to give him his 9 game tryout so one of Panik/Labrie/Pyatt wont be there to start the season, unless they are allowed to carry an "injured" scratch.
- stammerman

Drouin is a LW so they'll have to move Malone, Killorn or Palat.

Stamkos only had three shots on goal but Malone had seven. I love this line with Marty but Stammer should be taking more shots.
- stammerman

I hope the Lightning mold the season after the Rays and NOT the Bucs

Drouin is a LW so they'll have to move Malone, Killorn or Palat.
- Artyukhin76

It wont take long for Malone to get injured so Drouin will have a chance beside Stamkos and St. Louis sooner rather than later.. Malone missed half the season last year and never plays more than 70 games a season anyways.. Thats plenty of time for drouin to make a impact!

It wont take long for Malone to get injured so Drouin will have a chance beside Stamkos and St. Louis sooner rather than later.. Malone missed half the season last year and never plays more than 70 games a season anyways.. Thats plenty of time for drouin to make a impact!
- bradstar

Very possible. However, "IF" he stays healthy then Drouin could have a plane ticket back Halifax.

Drouin is a LW so they'll have to move Malone, Killorn or Palat.
- Artyukhin76

I think you'll see Panik before Palat, but that's just a guess.

I think you'll see Panik before Palat, but that's just a guess.
- Michael_Stuart

But they play different wings. Palat is a LW and Panik is an RW.
Malone Stamkos St. Louis
Killorn Filppula Purcell
Drouin Johnson Connolly
Crombeen Thompson Panik
Panik may have more talent, but Palat has Thompson unending effort and drive.
I like Boltprospects and all, but there is NO way Connolly rides the fourth line

But they play different wings. Palat is a LW and Panik is an RW.
Malone Stamkos St. Louis
Killorn Filppula Purcell
Drouin Johnson Connolly
Crombeen Thompson Panik
Panik may have more talent, but Palat has Thompson unending effort and drive.
I like Boltprospects and all, but there is NO way Connolly rides the fourth line
- Artyukhin76

I wouldn't be surprised to see Purcell on a third line to start the year if Connolly continues to produce with Filppula and Killorn.

Malone Stamkos St. Louis
Killorn Filppula Connolly
Drouin Johnson Purcell
Crombeen Thompson Panik

Hedman Salo
Carle Gudas
Brewer Aulie
Barberio

Bishop
Lindback

--

I'm not saying that's a prediction or anything, but it's what my opening night lineup would look like.

I really like that Top 9 Michael, that would probably be how I'd set it up. Possibly switching BC and TP but I like both variations.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Purcell on a third line to start the year if Connolly continues to produce with Filppula and Killorn.

Malone Stamkos St. Louis
Killorn Filppula Connolly
Drouin Johnson Purcell
Crombeen Thompson Panik

Hedman Salo
Carle Gudas
Brewer Aulie
Barberio

Bishop
Lindback

--

I'm not saying that's a prediction or anything, but it's what my opening night lineup would look like.
- Michael_Stuart

Michael what other two forwards do you see the lightning carrying opening day? I say Palat on third line and flip flop Purcell and Connolly, then carry Drouin and Labrie for the 14. But then Pyatt and Tyrell have NHL experience and I would expect them to picked up by other teams if we try to option them to Syracuse.

Going to be fun to see how it shakes out.