Sam Hitchcock: Lightning's Speed and Passing Return

Elbows to the head returned to Tampa Bay, also.

NoMoreTears.jpeg

Cermak getting a call from the league?
2 games did nothing.

Cernak is a head-hunter. Sucks because I thought he had promise in other areas. Time for the Lightning to cut him loose. We don't need that and the league doesn't need that. I said it after the hit on Dahlin and I say it again - I want him off this team. Send him to Boston - they like dirty players and cheapshot artists.

When Pierre McGuire interviewed Jon Cooper after the Lightning wasted a five-minute power play, Cooper seemed cheery and relaxed. He didn’t seem bothered that Tampa Bay had squandered the man advantage

FIRE COOPER. NOW. This is another example of why. He should have been visibly *pissed* after that abortion of a power play. Any game this team wins is in spite of Cooper, not because of him.

As I was looking through the roster to find a replacement for verhaege (because he is awful) I was wondering when we might get our first looks at Cal Foote? I remember a small rave about this kid when drafted but he has yet to see a game. Any thoughts?

As I was looking through the roster to find a replacement for verhaege (because he is awful) I was wondering when we might get our first looks at Cal Foote? I remember a small rave about this kid when drafted but he has yet to see a game. Any thoughts?
- MeatTitan

Yeah, honestly, I don't care what the fancy stats say, he seems to be snake-bitten. Maybe not yet ready for prime-time. Volkov seems to be made of glass, so I don't think he's the answer. Conacher has never blown my skirt up. Witowski is a liability. I don't know. One could go down the Syracuse roster and pick out some hard-workers who have earned a shot, and any one of them is probably going to have the same impact as the other.

I do know this however - against teams that have physically pushed us around (like Washington), I would have Schenn and Witowski in the line-up. Instead, Cooper goes with Rutta and Verhageemouse/Conacher. I would send a clear message to physical teams that we can run with the big dogs in that department. Guys like Tom Wilson thrive on intimidation and throwing Schenn, Witowski, and Cernak at him in the same game should tire Wilson out and keep him in the box for half the game. Any three of the Bolts I just mentioned is a good trade-off for 5-minutes in the box against most opposing players. I guarantee you that Washington would be getting the worse end of the stick by having Wilson sit in the box than Tampa having Witowski in the box. But no, Cooper goes with a soft lineup against the Caps.

And it's time to have a serious sit-down with Cernak. The kid has quickly evolved into a head-hunting goon instead of being a solid defensive/physical D-man. He could mold himself in the poor man's version of Scott Stevens (maybe) if he tried. Instead, he's looking like Milan Lucic impersonating a D-man. I would tell him to knock that poop off now and or ride the pine while we find a taker for him.

Cernak is a head-hunter. Sucks because I thought he had promise in other areas. Time for the Lightning to cut him loose. We don't need that and the league doesn't need that. I said it after the hit on Dahlin and I say it again - I want him off this team. Send him to Boston - they like dirty players and cheapshot artists.



FIRE COOPER. NOW. This is another example of why. He should have been visibly *pissed* after that abortion of a power play. Any game this team wins is in spite of Cooper, not because of him.
- GalacticStone

relax. Cernak is a decent player. before this week he had no history with being a garbage cheap shot player. the entire team is having a rough start to the year

relax. Cernak is a decent player. before this week he had no history with being a garbage cheap shot player. the entire team is having a rough start to the year
- Bolts77

Vasi sure is looking average at best so far this year. And the Bolts' record in the standings is what last year's would have looked like with league-average (or worse) goaltending. The Bolts style of play counts on Vasi putting in Vezina-quality starts. We are not getting that so far this year and it's showing in the standings.

Vasi sure is looking average at best so far this year. And the Bolts' record in the standings is what last year's would have looked like with league-average (or worse) goaltending. The Bolts style of play counts on Vasi putting in Vezina-quality starts. We are not getting that so far this year and it's showing in the standings.
- GalacticStone

Signed big contract. Lots of players historically try to hard. He will figure it out