yep. Mtl also had 4 games in six nights.
Losing 1-0 or 7-1 doesn't matter. They lost 2 pts.
- evilkonig

Well, let's hope we take out ALL our Anger and frustration out on the Yotes!

Well, let's hope we take out ALL our Anger and frustration out on the Yotes!
- Artyukhin76

Please, don't

There were just too many dumb turnovers and when there were, Nabby was unable to bail them out. But realistically, you are pretty banged up and there may be nights like these.

This game gave me cancer.

yep. Mtl also had 4 games in six nights.
Losing 1-0 or 7-1 doesn't matter. They lost 2 pts.
- evilkonig

Two sets of back to backs who did these schedules. Yup 2 points is the bottom line. Time to move on to the next game after a good old a*s kicking.

Nothing to see here... move along...

Gudlevskis is pulling a Nabokov today

Now that my depression has lifted, some thoughts :

Do not write off Nabokov after one bad night. He has looked sharp until he wandered off into the Wild. Nabokov is at the point Roloson was when he first joined the Lightning - there is a little gas left in tank. He has enough gas left for one more run. This year will probably be his last and it should be a good one. If he wasn't as old as he is, nobody would be writing him off yet. Look at his stats this season as a whole versus one night against the Wild. The Wild have put together a tight squad that holds it's own in the West. No surprise they ran the table on us once they smelled blood.

Even Bishop looked ordinary when called upon. But he was just another victim of the situation.

Long road trip and first one of the year. Key injuries and increasing numbers of injuries. Slumping level of play and a general funk the team had slipped in to - it was evident on the entire trip. The Vancouver game was closer than the score made it look, we stunk in Edmonton, we stunk in Calgary, and we got manhandled in Winnipeg. We were lucky to steal any points in those games. A reality check was long overdue and Minnesota delivered it.

I hope, as others have already said, that we got this beating out of the way early and do not allow another one to happen for the rest of the season and playoffs.

It is time for Carle to step up and convincingly-portray the role of a true top-4 defenseman who can be called upon (on rare occasion) to provide top-2 quality minutes.

It is time for Sustr to pick what he wants to be. Does he want to be another Cory Cross? He looked like it in Minnesota.

Gudas has looked ordinary (or worse) in his reduced minutes this year. I think he needs to let his beard grow longer. He was more effective early on, before he trimmed his beard. He draws his powers from the beard, so it must be encouraged to grow.

Stralman is a stud. The pairing of Hedman and Stralman is going to open the First Seal.

Our depth at forward is showing a mixed reaction to the pressure of added minutes and responsibilities. With key injuries to Killorn and Callahan, or right-wing is barren. You can shift Stamkos to wing, but he is better at center.

Outside of Stamkos, Filppula, Palat, and Johnson, the rest of the team has looked mediocre at times (not counting the injured players). The young Russians have showed promise and flashes, but they are not complete 2-way, top-6 players yet. Our current bottom-6 has looked very bottom 6.

Drouin is going to live up to expectations.

We need to go on a long point streak and avoid any long losing streaks. We will not catch this division by surprise this year and some of the other teams also improved in the off-season. Every year the Bolts have a long losing streak - we can't have that this year (or any year, moving forward).

EVERYONE had a rough game last night.

After his team brutalized us, the Wild's blogger was feeling generous : http://www.hockeybuzz.com...d_id=120964&forum_id=1%22

After his team brutalized us, the Wild's blogger was feeling generous : http://www.hockeybuzz.com...d_id=120964&forum_id=1%22
- GalacticStone

He's the Coyotes blogger.

He's the Coyotes blogger.
- Michael_Stuart

Brainfart. LOL.

Check out today's HockeyBuzz Hotstove!

Check out today's HockeyBuzz Hotstove!
- Michael_Stuart

Why, are the lightning going to have a fire sale based on our supposed poop play?

Lines at practice this morning:

Killorn/Filppula/Stamkos
Palat/Johnson/Kucherov
Drouin/Namestnikov/Paquette
Morrow/Boyle/Brown

Drouin on the third line, will be interesting to see how Cooper rotates the lines through the game maybe shifting Killorn and Drouin between the 1 and 3 lines.

I really want to see the line assignments when the team is fully healthy as I want Stamkos-Filppula-Johnson-Boyle down the middle, to me that would make our F groups the most effective.

Lines at practice this morning:

Killorn/Filppula/Stamkos
Palat/Johnson/Kucherov
Drouin/Namestnikov/Paquette
Morrow/Boyle/Brown

Drouin on the third line, will be interesting to see how Cooper rotates the lines through the game maybe shifting Killorn and Drouin between the 1 and 3 lines.

I really want to see the line assignments when the team is fully healthy as I want Stamkos-Filppula-Johnson-Boyle down the middle, to me that would make our F groups the most effective.
- stammerman

I agree with the center man .. Id like to see drouin stamkos and kucherov just for a period or so to see how it goes , I realize that kucherov really started buzzing around more when he was with top 6ers

I agree with the center man .. Id like to see drouin stamkos and kucherov just for a period or so to see how it goes , I realize that kucherov really started buzzing around more when he was with top 6ers
- RileyB77

Would be fun to see how that line played as you have two gifted with hands Drouin and Kucherov, 1 passer in Drouin, 2 shoot first players in Stamkos and Kucherov, 1 pure shooter in Stamkos and all three have great hockey vision, give it a year and that might be how it ends up.

Yes Kucherov has looked real good on the line with Palat and Johnson, he even looked good in the Minny mauling. If him and Drouin take that next step together this year look out, play makers for days. I will even throw Connolly in there if he takes the next step when he comes back as he was showing some good things out on the ice.

Would be fun to see how that line played as you have two gifted with hands Drouin and Kucherov, 1 passer in Drouin, 2 shoot first players in Stamkos and Kucherov, 1 pure shooter in Stamkos and all three have great hockey vision, give it a year and that might be how it ends up.

Yes Kucherov has looked real good on the line with Palat and Johnson, he even looked good in the Minny mauling. If him and Drouin take that next step together this year look out, play makers for days. I will even throw Connolly in there if he takes the next step when he comes back as he was showing some good things out on the ice.
- stammerman

Maybe palat and Johnson have been improving the last few games cause Johnson is back at C . Hopefully he stays there .. When we are healthy

Drouin stamkos Callahan
Kucherov filppula Killorn
Palat Johnson Connolly
Morrow Boyle brown

Maybe rotate namestnikov and someone else .. Not sure who

I know palat can be in the top 6 but palat and Johnson have been working good together again just like last year lately I want them togethe