John Gove: Game 19 Recap: Bolts Defeat Stars in Bishop's Return to Tampa Bay

The team is flat out fun to watch. They have a nice balance of youth with Kucherov, Point, Vasey and Sergachev and experience with Kunitz, Gerardi, Callahan and oddly enough, Stamkos. They will hit a rough patch in the season, everyone does, but as long as these guys stay healthy it is shaping up to be a special season.

I would like to see Budaj more, main reason to give Vasey some rest and not burn him out but to also keep Budaj sharp.

After the 5th goal, I almost started to feel bad for Bishop.

Welcome home buddy, now here is a barrage of vulcanized rubber coming at ya.

Sustr looked pretty bland or awful for most of his ice time. If the kid would just develop a bit of a nasty streak, at least be would be useful for something. He ranks at the bottom of every standard and advanced individual statistic for the team. I guess we are still carrying spares for depth.

Sustr is one of 3 players with a minus, he's -3, amazingly Johnson is a team worst -6.

Sustr is one of 3 players with a minus, he's -3, amazingly Johnson is a team worst -6.
- Sityak

If you have a body that big, you gotta do something with it, other than make long awkward poke checks with your stick. He doesn't hit. He's not a great skater (even for his size). He has almost no offensive upside. He's not a good shot blocker. Hell, Girardi is making him look bad at this point.

If you have a body that big, you gotta do something with it, other than make long awkward poke checks with your stick. He doesn't hit. He's not a great skater (even for his size). He has almost no offensive upside. He's not a good shot blocker. Hell, Girardi is making him look bad at this point.
- GalacticStone

while koekkoek, who has shown to be a much better option than 3/4 of our D , serves popcorn and develops rust upstairs. what is the problem? are we not allowed to have 3 young D on our blue line, even if it's CLEARLY the best option available? sustr is garbage, get rid of him . this is a stanley cup contender, not a bottom feeder. i have no idea and it blows my mind why he still plays for this team. this is the #1 team in the nhl, and people should be held accountable whether its stamkos (ok he get's the benefit of the doubt) or sustr. ESPECIALLY when there's better options ALREADY ON THE TEAM. no trade required, nothing. just sit sustr please. for the remainder of the season

while koekkoek, who has shown to be a much better option than 3/4 of our D , serves popcorn and develops rust upstairs. what is the problem? are we not allowed to have 3 young D on our blue line, even if it's CLEARLY the best option available? sustr is garbage, get rid of him . this is a stanley cup contender, not a bottom feeder. i have no idea and it blows my mind why he still plays for this team. this is the #1 team in the nhl, and people should be held accountable whether its stamkos (ok he get's the benefit of the doubt) or sustr. ESPECIALLY when there's better options ALREADY ON THE TEAM. no trade required, nothing. just sit sustr please. for the remainder of the season
- RileyB77

Yeah, the case of Koekkoek is mindboggling. He should be a regular in our lineup. Its been 4 years since we drafted him top10 overall and he still doesnt get a fair chance. And when he does he produces. He is getting the Drouin treatment.

There should never be a game where Sustr is dressed and Koekkoek is scratched.

Makes zero sense. Did Koekkoek kick Cooper's dog or something?