By Chad Wise, Staff Writer
It was not so long ago that the Tampa Bay Lightning hoisted a Stanley Cup Championship banner. But recently, hockey in the Bay Area has struggled with success. After beating the Calgary Flames in seven games in the 2004 Finals, the Lightning have made the playoffs twice, losing in the first round each time, and selected first, second, and sixth in the 2008-10 NHL Entry Drafts, respectively.
The 2010-11 season looks to be a change in the wind for the Lightning. Currently fifth in the Eastern Conference with 24 points as of Nov. 21, Tampa Bay is sporting an 11-7-2 record with four wins and three losses coming at home at the St. Pete Times Forum. Steven Stamkos, entering his third season, leads the league in points with 34 and goals with 19 in only 20 games played. Stamkos scored 51 goals last season, tying Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby for the Rocket Richard Trophy for most goals in a season.
There was a lot of turnover this off season for the Lightning, who saw the dismissal of general manager Brian Lawton and head coach Rick Tocchet by a new owner – Boston investment banker Jeffrey Vinik. Vinik then hired Detroit Red Wings great Steve Yzerman as general manager. Yzerman, coming off of a successful Winter Olympic campaign with Team Canada, hired Guy Boucher as the new head coach. Boucher coached the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL last season and won the coach-of-theyear award.
The Lighting also acquired star winger Simon Gagne from the Philadelphia Flyers and free agents Sean Bergenheim, Dominic Moore, and Dan Ellis. In addition, defenseman Pavel Kubina returned to the team with whom he won a Stanley Cup. Each new acquisition has played a role in the new system coached by Boucher, but Gagne has struggled with injuries, only playing in six games so far this season.
Captain Vincent Lecavalier is also out of hockey action after breaking his hand in a game against Southeast Division rivals Washington Capitals. He had surgery last week and is currently slated to be sidelined for four to five weeks.
Even with two of the top six forwards out of commission, the Lightning, following games on Nov. 20, are only six points behind the Capitals for first in the division and the Eastern Conference with a game in hand. Although it is still early, the Lightning has shown that they are a serious playoff contender for the first time since the 2006-07 season.
With exciting hockey back in the Tampa area, students are at an advantage to attend home games, with the St. Pete Times Forum only a half hour away from the Saint Leo University Campus. With a vast amount of students hailing from the Northeast attending Saint Leo, attending hockey games at inexpensive prices can now be on their priority list. Whether it is to get a break from studying or a night out with friends, a Tampa Bay Lightning game offers entertainment that is hard to find elsewhere within range of University Campus.
For a schedule of upcoming home games, please visit lightning.nhl.com.
