Ten Best Lightning Games Ever

What were the best Lightning Games Ever? What games led to the Lightning being successful as a team? Here is a list of the 10 best games in the history of the franchise.

10. October 6, 2018
Regular Season Game 1
Amalie Arena
Lightning 2 Panthers 1 (Shoot Out)

This was the first game of the regular season for the Lightning on their way to the President's Cup. The team won in a shoot out. It would be the 1st of 62 wins for the Lightning. Those 62 wins would tie an NHL record. Although the season did not end how anyone wanted it to, the 1st win in a record breaking season is certainly newsworthy.

Goal: Anthony Cirelli

JT Miller and Nikita Kucherov scored in the shootout

9. May 27, 2004

Stanley Cup Finals Game 2

St. Pete Times Forum

Lightning 4 Flames 1

This was a win in the Lighting's only Stanley Cup championship and their first of the series, so you would think it would be higher on the list. However, the other games on this list just edge it out. This is the one game on the list that was never in doubt and the most lopsided of the group. It still makes the list because it was win 1 of the Stanley Cup winning season.

Goals: Ruslan Fedotenko, Brad Richards, Dan Boyle, Martin St. Louis

8. April 20, 2003
Eastern Conference First Round Game 6
MCI Center
Lightning 2 Capitals 1 (3OT)

This win helped the Lightning advance to the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals for the first time. It was an incredible three overtime win against a tough Capitals squad. The win was the fourth in a row over the Capitals to win the series. St. Louis scored the game winner in the 3rd overtime, but the player of the game was Nikolai Khabibulin who had 60 saves!

Goals: Dave Andreychuk, Martin St. Louis

7. April 15, 2003
Eastern Conference First Round Game 3
MCI Center
Lightning 4 Capitals 3 (OT)

The Lightning were down 2 games to 0 in this series and this win would be the first of 4 in a row allowing the Lightning to win their first playoff series. What an incredible shift in momentum for the franchise created by this win. Lecavalier hit the game winner in OT, scoring his 2nd goal of the night.

Goals: Vincent Lecavalier (2), Vinny Prospal, Martin St. Louis

 6. April 29, 2015

Eastern Conference First Round Game 7

Joe Louis Arena

Lightning 2 Red Wings 0

The Lightning would take out their first of 3 straight original 6 teams with this game 7 win over the Rangers. Ben Bishop would have a 31 save shutout in this one. Bishop even picked up an assist on the 2nd goal.

Goals: Braydon Coburn, Anton Stralman

 5. May 31, 2004

Stanley Cup Finals Game 4
Pengrowth Saddledome
Lightning 1 Flames 0

The Lightning were down 2 games to 1 and needed a win in this game. Nikolai Khabibulin certainly did his part in recording 29 saves in the shutout victory. Due to the excellence of Khabibulin the Lightning were able to tie the series that they would eventually win.

Goal: Brad Richards

4. May 29, 2015
Eastern Conference Finals Game 7
Madison Square Garden
Lightning 2 Rangers 0

The Lightning were able to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the 2nd time by knocking out their third straight original 6 team. This time, they would do it in a game 7. Ben Bishop would post a shutout to make it happen recording 22 saves along the way.

Goals: Alex Killorn, Ondrej Palat

3. May 22, 2004

Eastern Conference Finals Game 7

St. Pete Times Forum

Lightning 2 Flyers 1

The Lightning don't even make it to the cup without winning this winner take all game against the Rangers. Khabibulin's 22 saves really made it happen in this one. The Lightning were able to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in team history.

Goals: Ruslan Fedotenko, Fredrik Modin

2. June 5th, 2004

Stanley Cup Finals Game 6

Pengrowth Saddledome

Lightning 3 Flames 2 (2OT)

There should be no doubt about the top two games on this list. The Flames are still bitter about this one, but it has been proved several times over that the referees made the correct call. St. Louis scored in the 2nd overtime and we saw a Game 7! Khabibulin was again outstanding with 31 saves.

Goals: Brad Richards (2), Martin St. Louis

1. June 7th, 2004

Stanley Cup Finals Game 7

St. Pete Times Forum

Lightning 2 Flames 1

This is a no-brainer at #1. The Lightning won the dang cup! Hopefully they win another one at some point, but this will always be #1 on the list. The first is always the best.

Goals: Ruslan Fedotenko (2)

- Noland

Tampa Bay Athlete Power Rankings

Sports have not returned yet to the Bay Area, but when they do, there is plenty of room for optimism. The Lightning and Rays look to have contending teams and the Buccaneers added the greatest quarterback of all-time. With all of this excitement, its a good time to look at what our current athletes have contributed to their Bay Area teams. Let's rank the athletes by what they have done as a member of their current teams. Only contributions as a member of the team will be considered, so sorry Tom Brady, who has yet to take the field for the Bucs, will not be considered. Additionally, the players overall career with the team is what will be considered, not just the most recent season. Here are your 2020 Tampa Bay Athlete Power Rankings

# 25 Ji-Man Choi

Tampa Bay Rays 2018-Present

We kick the list off with one of the best personalities in all of baseball. Choi is much more than an entertainer on the baseball field though. Last season he hit .261 with 19 home runs and 63 rbis. For the majority of the season, Choi did a wonderful job as the 1st baseman for the Rays. All of that wouldn't be enough to make the list though after a year and a half. There are some great athletes that missed the cut. Choi turned an unassisted double play in Game 4 of the ALDS last season that was key in forcing a game 5 against the Astros. He also hit a big home run in the Game 3 victory over Houston. Nobody gave Tampa a chance against the Astros before the series, but Ji-Man certainly made it a fun and exciting series. The success in the playoffs allow Choi to beat a few deserving contenders and make the list.

# 24 Cameron Brate
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2014-Present

Let's call this one the lifetime achievement award. Brate has spent 6 seasons with the Bucs. He could be 3rd on the depth chart this season, but Brate has done some big things with the Buccaneers. The Bucs TE has caught 27 touchdowns and racked up 2, 156 yards receiving. That ranks him 23rd in Bucs history in yards. The 27 TDS rank tied for 5th all-time in franchise history. His 195 catches ranks 20th in team history. He has made an impact in Tampa for sure.

# 23 Yanni Gourde

Tampa Bay Lightning 2015-Present

The lowest ranked Lightning player to make the list, Yanni Gourde is still special. He may not seem like he is producing as much since his big contract, but Yanni makes his presence felt on the ice. Gourde ranks 23rd in points, 23rd in goals, and 11th in +/- all-time. His 16 game winning goals are tied for 13th in franchise history. He hasn't done as much in the playoffs, but he does have a postseason game winning goal and 8 postseason points. Gourde's gritty style of play is a huge benefit for Tampa.

# 22 Vita Vea

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2018-Present

Vea was a controversial draft pick for the Buccaneers at the time he was selected. This was through no fault of his own, a lot of people just wanted Derwin James. While James has been a transformative player for the Chargers, it's hard to be mad about this selection now. Vea has been a constant force for the Buccaneers defense and has been incredible up the middle. It doesn't show up on the stat sheet, but Vea has been amazing. As one of the top defensive tackles in the league, Vea has played a major part for Tampa and their improved defense. There is a great chance that Vea will be much higher on this list in future years.

# 21 Tyler Glasnow
Tampa Bay Rays 2018-Present

Glasnow was traded from the Pirates to the Rays during the 2018 trade deadline in the Chris Archer deal. That deal may go down as the best trade in the history of the Rays. He could be a dominant starter for the Rays for many seasons. With Tampa he is 7-6 with a 2.94 ERA. Last season, Glasnow was 6-1 with a 1.78 ERA. The AL Pitcher of the Month in April 2019 has a very bright future for Tampa. 

# 20 Austin Meadows

Tampa Bay Rays 2018-Present

Did I mention the Chris Archer trade? That trade also brought the Rays Austin Meadows. He was an all-star in 2019 and has been incredible for the Rays. The September 2019 AL Player of the Month was simply brilliant in 2019. Meadows struggled a bit in the postseason, but still drove in 3 and had 2 extra base hits against the Astros. His efforts in the regular season helped propel Tampa Bay to their postseason birth. He hit .291 with 33 home runs and 89 rbis in 2019. The young outfielder has an incredibly bright future for the Rays and is still pre-arbitration until 2022.

# 19 Ryan McDonagh

Tampa Bay Lightning 2018-Present

Ryan McDonagh was traded from the Rangers to the Lightning in the 2017-2018 season and has been a key member of the Lightning ever since. His impact isn't felt in the stat sheet, but on what he brings to the ice as an outstanding defenseman. There is no stat that tells you how wonderful McDonagh has been, he just has been awesome. McDongh was second in the entire league in +/- during the 2018-2019 season with 38. His ability as a defender has him 9th all-time for the Lightning in that stat. Hopefully, he can fulfill his ultimate purpose in coming here and deliver Lord Stanley to Tampa Bay.

# 18 Mikhail Sergachev

Tampa Bay Lightning 2017-Present

Sergachev has been with the Lightning for about the same period of time as McDonagh, so why is he in front. While Mac is a vital piece of the Lightning franchise, don't sleep on Sergachev who has had an outstanding season so far. Sergachev is a fantastic offensive game for a defenseman which is further evidenced by his place on the Lightning power play unit. Sergachev's 7 postseason points are good for 32nd on the all-time franchise list. Sergachev is tied for 30th on the teams all-time scoring list for the regular season also. Sergachev is tied with Gourde for 11th all-time in +/- for the Bolts despite 2 fewer seasons with the team. The youngster is still only 21 years old! He has career highs this season in goals, and +/- in the shortened season. Awesome young career from Sergachev with much more to come.

# 17 Charlie Morton 

Tampa Bay Rays 2019-Present

Charlie Morton has only spent one season with the Rays, but its hard to imagine that season going much better. Morton was an all-star and finished 3rd in Cy Young voting. He finished 16-6 for a 3.05 ERA. His brilliant pitching all season long are a big reason why the Rays made the postseason. Not just that, but Morton won the wild card game for the Rays and then beat the eventual AL Champion Astros in the divisional round. He beat the team that cheated off pitchers in the playoffs.

# 16 Shaquil Barrett

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2019-Present

A guy with only one season makes the top 20? Yes, they do when that season was as good as the one Shaquil Barrett had in 2019. During that season, Shaq set the single season team record for sacks. Those 19.5 sacks put Barrett at 18th in franchise history in sacks and only 9 sacks away from being 6th place on the all-time franchise sack list. When you consider that the Bucs have 2 Hall of Fame defensive tackles, a hall of fame linebacker, and several other notable defenders in franchise history, that is quite the accomplishment. The 2019 for Shaquil Barrett was one of the best sports seasons that Tampa Bay has ever seen from a single athlete. Shaq looks to perhaps get into the top 10 next season.

# 15 Anthony Cirelli

Tampa Bay Lightning 2018-Present

Cirelli is in only his 2nd full season with the Lightning and he has already made a major mark on the franchise. The center is 8th all time in +/- for the Lightning. This is a team that has won a cup and Cirelli is 8th all-time in +/-. He already has 8 game winning goals in 2 years also. 37th all-time in goals and points might not seem like a big deal, but Cirelli is already there for both stats after just 2 seasons. The crazy young forward is a free agent after this season, but the Lightning will likely look to lock him up long term. He brings crazy energy and skill every night and is an absolute fan favorite. This city could use a few players more like Cirelli. You never have to question Cirelli's effort and that is a special thing.

# 14 Chris Godwin

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2017-Present

Godwin is the only player in the top 15 who spent three years or less with Tampa Bay. His 3 seasons with the Buccaneers have been very good, especially last year. Last year, he made the Pro Bowl and was a 1st team all-pro from Pro Football Focus. 2019 saw Godwin haul in 86 catches for 1,333 yards and 9 touchdowns. His career totals are 179 catches for 2,700 yards and 17 TDs. Those 17 TDs rank 13th on the Bucs all-time list. The catches rank 23rd in franchise history and yards rank 16th in franchise history. A healthy 2020 should see Godwin move into the top 10 in all three categories and perhaps into the top 10 for our list next year.

# 13 Ali Marpet

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2015-Present

Marpet has been one of the best guards in the NFL during his 5 seasons in the league. There are not a lot of stats to back up offensive lineman on the list, but Marpet has been outstanding. The Bucs offensive line has caught a lot of flack in recent years, but it has nothing to do with Ali. Marpet is a great offensive lineman and has been incredible for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The team and city are lucky to have Ali Marpet.

# 12 Brayden Point

Tampa Bay Lightning 2016-Present

This is just Point's 4th season with the Lightning, but he is already making an impact. Point already has 25 game winning goals which is 7th all-time for the team. +/- is another favorable metric for Point, who already ranks 7th all-time in that stat. He also ranks 13th all-time in points and 10th all-time in goals. During the playoffs, Point is 15th in scoring and 12th in goals. He's young and locked up for the lightning for many seasons. Two years ago, Point led the league in game winning goals, and last year he led the league in power play goals. The 2018 all-star is one of the fastest skaters in the NHL and an absolutely dynamic goal scorer. Pointer lights up the scoreboard for Tampa Bay and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

# 11Ondrej Palat

Tampa Bay Lightning 2012-Present

Palat is not what he once was, but he has been special for the lightning. Who can forget the triplets line? Palat is 8th all-time in playoff scoring and 7th all-time in postseason goals. He also has 4 game winning goals for the Bolts in the playoffs. Additionally, Palat is the franchise's all-time leader in +/- during the regular season. During the regular season, Palat ranks 9th in points all-time. He's been a really solid player for the Lightning for many seasons. He is widely regarded as one of the Lightning's top defensive forwards as well. 

# 10 Andrei Vasileviskiy
Tampa Bay Lightning 2014-Present

You are probably shocked to see him as just the 10th ranked player on this list. Vasy may very well be the best goalie in the game and he has been terrific in the regular season. Unfortunately, he has been very pedestrian in the playoffs with a 15-15 record. His save percentage is 6th all-time for the Lightning in the playoffs. Vasy's underwhelming postseasons should not allow us to forget how brilliant he has been for the Tampa Bay Lighting in the regular season though. Vasileviskiy is 2nd all-time in save percentage for the Lightning. He is also the all-time franchise leader in games played out of the goalie spot. It's easy to see how Vasy could be ranked higher and how he likely will be ranked higher the next time we do this list.

# 9 Blake Snell
Tampa Bay Rays 2016-Present

Technically Blake Snell is the only league champion on this list. Snell recently won the 2020 Players League Championship on MLB the Show. This success in the video game can't be counted on our countdown, but it does show another reason why Blake Snell is awesome. The Rays have had many really good pitchers and Snell is 6th all-time in pitching WAR for the Rays. He's 10th in wins and 5th in win percentage. Snell ranks number 1 in strikeouts per nine and number 1 in adjusted ERA all-time for the franchise. You can make a good argument that Snell is the best pitcher in franchise history and that is a big deal. Despite his recent comments, Snell still finds his way in the top 10.

# 8 Alex Killorn
Tampa Bay Lightning 2012-Present

Killorn might be the most clutch athlete in all of Tampa Bay. While the Tampa Bay Lightning have struggled in the postseason, Kilorn always seems to bring a little bit extra. He is 9th all-time for the Bolts in playoff scoring. That only tells part of the story. Killorn is the all-time leader for the Lightning in +/- during the playoffs. Tampa Bay is +13 with Killorn in the lineup during the postseason. His 5 game winning goals during the playoffs, rank 5th all time for Tampa. Killorn ranks 10th all-time in scoring for the Bolts during the regular season as well. His 26 regular season game winning goals rank 6th in franchise history. Killorn's 131 goals rank 8th as well. Killer is one of the most underrated and underappreciated players in all of Tampa Bay and the Bay Area is quite lucky to have him.

# 7 Kevin Kiermaier

Tampa Bay Rays 2013-Present

Kiermaier is not the Rays best player, but he is their longest tenured and he has been a very productive player on a very good team. He is 4th all-time among position players for the Rays in WAR. Offensive WAR all-time for the Rays, Kiermaier ranks 8th. Kiermaier's real value is on the defensive side. He ranks #1 all-time for the franchise in defensive WAR. Three gold gloves also belong to Kiermaier as he won that award in 2015, 2016, and 2019. He can still produce on the offensive side though, Kiermaier is 7th all-time for the Rays in runs scored. The Rays have been so brilliant for so long, its a shame that their top guy is 7th on the list, but their athletes just haven't done what the other 6 guys have done.

# 6 Tyler Johnson

Tampa Bay Lightning 2012-Present

Tampa Bay recently had a Tyler Johnson infusion after the Buccaneers also selected a Tyler Johnson. We are talking about the hockey Tyler here at #6. He is not quite the same player as he was in 2015 when he made the all-star team and finished 3rd in +/-, but he's still great. Johnson is 5th all-time in playoff scoring for the Lightning and 3rd all-time in goals during the playoffs for the Bolts. Johnny leads all current Lightning players and is 2nd all-time with 7 game winning goals during the postseason. He's long been one of the best playoff performers for Tampa. Johnson's no slouch in the regular season though. Tyler is 4th all-time in +/-, 5th in game winning goals, 5th in goals, and 8th in points all-time for the Lightning in the regular season. Johnny be good.

# 5 Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2014-Present

Mike Evans was one name that everyone probably expected in the Top 5 and he deserves it. Evans is rightfully recognized as one of the greatest receivers in the NFL. He has been selected to 2 pro bowls in his 6 seasons in Tampa. There is a lot more to Mike Evans though. Mike has 7,260 career receiving yards which are the most in franchise history. Not only is Evans #1 though, he is 2,200 yards up on the next closest receiver on the list. His 462 receptions is also tops in franchise history. The 48 touchdown receptions that Evans have are 14 more than the next closest Buccaneer. As the top WR in the history of the franchise, Evans is an easy choice in the top 5.

# 4 Lavonte David

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2012-Present

Lavonte David is one of the most underrated athletes in Tampa Bay history. He may be the most underrated player this city has ever seen. This dude just makes tackles and makes plays. He's been brilliant for Tampa for 8 years and he has only made 1 Pro-Bowl. What has he done in those 8 years? How about 1,008 tackles, 724 of which were solo tackles. Those 724 tackles rank 3rd in Buccaneer history. The two guys in front of him are Derrick Brooks and Ronde Barber. His 116 tackles for loss are the most in Buccaneer history. Let me repeat that, 116 tackles for loss which is the most in franchise history. He has more tackles for loss than Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks. Some people consider Brooks the greatest outside linebacker ever and David has more tackles for loss. Lavonte has been and continues to be brilliant for this franchise. Hopefully this team can deliver him the Super Bowl title that he so rightly deserves.

# 3 Nikita Kucherov

Tampa Bay Lightning 2013-Present

Many believe Kucherov is the most skilled player in the entire NHL. He drives another segment of the fanbase crazy with his turnovers. There is no doubt though that Kuch has done some special things with the Bolts. Kucherov is 2nd all-time in playoff scoring for the Bolts. He is also 2nd in goals, 3rd in game winning goals, and third in +/- during the postseason all-time. Regular season all-time, Kucherov is 4th in points, 4th in goals, 4th in game winning goals, and 2nd in +/-. The guy is an incredible talent. His best season was last season where he won the Hart Memorial Trophy, the Ted Lindsay Award, and the Art Ross Trophy. He led the league in points and assists for 2018-2019. This wasn't the only time he led the league in a stat, as he led the league in power play goals in 2016-2017. For the 2014-2015 seasons, Kuch led the league in +/-. He's been a really good player for the Bolts for a long-time and has been fantastic for the city. At just 26 years old and after just signing an extension, there is a lot more Kucherov for the Tampa Bay area. 

# 2 Victor Hedman

Tampa Bay Lightning 2009-Present

The longtime Lightning defenseman has already had a brilliant career for the Bolts. His 11 seasons in blue and white have seen him pick up numerous awards and all-star appearances. He is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the national hockey league today. Hedman even won the Norris award for the 2017-2018 season as the top defender in the entire league. The guy has been a finalist for that award the past three seasons and was likely on pace to be named a finalist for the 4th straight season this year. Hedman is 6th all-time for the Bolts in playoff scoring despite being a defenseman. Don't forget that he was hurt during that playoff collapse last season. This guy is vital to the Lightning's success and has been a great asset for the Tampa Bay Lightning for the past 11 seasons. He's higher than Kucherov because of longer sustained excellence, but his tenure hasn't been quite as amazing as our #1 guy.

And your # 1 ranked athlete for the Tampa Bay Area is.....

Steven Stamkos
Tampa Bay Lightning 2008-Present

When you think about it, this was the clear-cut choice for #1. The superstar captain of the best team in Tampa Bay had to be the top choice here. He has already had a legendary career as a member of the Lightning. Stammer is already 3rd all-time in points in lightning history. He's also 3rd all-time in scoring for the postseason. His 422 regular season goals rank as #1 all-time for the Lightning. The guy has 61 game winning goals which rank just 3 behind Martin St. Louis for #1 all-time. He will go down as the most prolific goal scorer in Tampa Bay Lightning history. Should he deliver a cup to Tampa Bay, there is an argument for him as the #1 athlete all-time in this area. Stamkos is number one and his legacy can only grow by hoisting a Stanley Cup one day.

- Noland

Who Do The Lightning Want To See In The Playoffs?

It is almost time for one of the most exciting times in sports. That's right the Stanley Cup Playoffs are coming. The Tampa Bay Lightning are heavy favorites to win the cup this year and seem to be steamrolling into the playoffs. Tampa Bay has already secured 110 points and certainly will have the 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Washington is the best team in the Metro and Tampa is 21 points ahead of them. There is a lot we know and a lot we don't. Let's start with what we know about the playoffs.

The Bolts will be the one seed. Opponent is currently unknown for round 1, but we know it will be the 2nd wild card.

The Bruins and the Maple Leafs will be the 2nd and 3rd seeds in the Atlantic Division and will play each other round 1. They are actually 2nd and 3rd in points, but will face each other in round 1 because the Capitals are leading the Metro. The winner will face the winner of the Bolts and the TBD 8th seed in the Eastern Conference Semis.

The top 3 in the Metro are currently in flux. It looks like the Capitals will win the metro, but that is far from a guarantee. Whoever wins the metro will play the first wild card. The 2nd and 3rd place teams will face each other.

Now let's look at the possible matchups for Tampa in Round 1. Let's start with most likely and move to least likely. We will leave out the Capitals and assume they don't fall down to the 2nd wildcard.

Possible Matchup 1: Columbus Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets are currently 5th in the metro and are 2nd in the wild card with 81 points. The Blue Jackets are tied with the Canadians, but listed as the current playoff matchup for Tampa if the season ended today.

Tampa is 3-0 against Columbus this season

Bolts 8 Columbus 2 on 10/13

Bolts 4 Columbus 0 on 1/8

Bolts 5 Columbus 1 on 2/18

This is a great matchup for the lightning. Tampa has won by 4 goals in each matchup and are a matchup nightmare for Columbus. There is no way that Tampa should be upset with this matchup.

Possible Matchup 2: Montreal Canadians

The Montreal Canadians are currently 4th in the Atlantic and just outside the playoff picture. However, they are tied with a Columbus Blue Jackets team that is the 2nd wild card. Both teams sit at 81 points and it is still quite likely that Tampa could play Montreal in Round 1.

Tampa is 3-0 against Montreal this season

Bolts 4 Montreal 1 on 11/3

Bolts 6 Montreal 5 on 12/29

Bolts 3 Montreal 0 on 2/16

The Bolts won 3 straight matchups with the Canadians. This is a good matchup for Tampa, but a little bit tougher than Columbus. Each of the games with Montreal were decided by 3 goals or less. Still a good matchup for Tampa, but not quite as good as Columbus.

Possible Matchup 3: Carolina Hurricanes

The Carolina Hurricanes are currently 4th in the metro and projected to be the 1st wild card. They'd be playing the metro division champ in round 1 if the season ended today. They have 83 points right now, which is just 2 points ahead of both Columbus and Montreal. It is quite possible that this could be the round 1 matchup.
The Lightning still have 1 matchup remaining with the Hurricanes. They will play Carolina on Thursday 3/21 @ 7 pm.
Tampa is 2-0 currently against the Hurricanes
Bolts 4 Carolina 2 on 10/16
Bolts 3 Carolina 1 on 1/10

Tampa Bay won each matchup by 2 goals against Carolina. That first matchup if you remember was a game in which Tyler Johnson had a hat-trick. Johnson was simply dominant in that first matchup and Domingue was pretty good as well. Carolina has a lot of talent, but Tampa should handle them easily.

Possible Matchup 4: Philadelphia Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers are currently 6th in the metro and on the outside looking in currently. They have a lot of work to do in order to get to the postseason. Philly is 5 points behind Montreal and Columbus for that 2nd wild card. This team probably won't make the postseason, but they have a shot to do so.
The Lightning went 3-0 against the Flyers this year.
Bolts 6 Flyers 5 on 11/17 (OT)
Bolts 6 Flyers 5 on 12/27 (OT)
Bolts 5 Flyers 2 on 2/19

Tampa Bay is 3-0 against the Flyers, but they had some close calls. 2 of the 3 wins were 6-5 victories in overtime. Both of the overtime games featured late leads that the Lightning gave up and overcame the late lapses. That November 11th game featured a game winner in overtime from Anthony Cirelli from Alex Killorn. The December 27th game featured the opposite. Killorn won that one late from Cirelli. So we want to make sure Killorn and Cirelli get plenty of ice time if the matchup is Philly.

Possible Matchup 5: Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins are currently 3rd in the metro and would be playing the Islanders in round 1. Pittsburgh has 85 points which is 4 points in front of the 2nd wild card. I'd assume that the Penguins finish in the top 3 of the metro. That being said, it's not impossible to consider that Pittsburgh will play Tampa in Round 1.
Tampa went 2-1 against the Penguins this season
Bolts 4 Pittsburgh 3 on 11/15
Bolts 2 Pittsburgh 4 on 1/30
Bolts 5 Pittsburgh 4 on 2/9

This is the one that jumps out at you as a 1st round matchup that isn't ideal. The Penguins have a lot of star power and playoff success. That isn't a team that you typically like to see round 1. They also present something that the other options to this point have not, they beat the Lightning this season. Pittsburgh looked dang food in that win back in January too. The team even holds a goal differential lead over Tampa. Just not the best scenario, but like I've said before, Tampa is loaded.

Possible Matchup 6: New York Islanders

The New York Islanders are currently 2nd in the metro and would be playing Pittsburgh in round 1. New York has 87 points which is 6 in front of the 2nd wild card. Their current point total makes me believe that they will finish in the top 3 of the metro. I personally can't rule them out as a round 1 opponent though.
Tampa went 2-1 against the Islanders this season
Bolts 4 New York 2 on 11/8
Bolts 1 New York 5 on 1/13
Bolts 1 New York 0 on 2/1 in a shootout

New York has been a really solid team this year and also holds a goal differential lead on the Lightning in head to head play. The lightning have a winning record though and won the two close games. Tampa's loaded squad should be good to go if they play New York unless they beat themselves. This matchup seems quite unlikely though.

So Who Do The Lightning Want To Play?

After all of this I have told you, the Lightning should want anyone, anywhere, at anytime. The Bolts have arguably the best goalie in the NHL in Andrei Vasilevsikiy, arguably the best player in the league in Nikita Kucherov, and arguably the best defender in Victor Hedman. From top to bottom the team is loaded. There are some matchups that are better than others, but.....

The Lightning shouldn't be scared of anybody. This team was built to be Stanley Cup Champions and should deliver. There is a good chance that even if they don't play one of these teams in the first round, they could play later on. A team like Pittsburgh screams of a team that could challenge Tampa in the Eastern Conference Final. While they should not fear anyone, they should be ready for anyone. This is arguably the most coveted prize in sports and it won't come to the Lightning easy.

It will be a fun ride no matter what.

- Noland 

Some Lightning Fans Need A Reality Check

"Alex Killorn is terrible and not worth his contract."

"Steven Stamkos is washed"

"Vasy lets in too many easy goals"

"Will Gourde ever score again"

These are just some of the statements you might see on social media if you follow some Bolts fans. You would think that the Lightning were in last place. This team is in 1st place. They have 76 points at the break. That is first in the NHL. The next closest team in the entire sport is Calgary with 69 points. Tampa Bay has been the best team all season long and we should learn to appreciate it.

Sure, we can always get better. Sure, we have to clean up certain things to bring home the cup. Sure, all of this record stuff goes out the window if we ultimately fall short. Still, we can appreciate that we have a pretty good team down here in Tampa.

Let's look at some of the common sentiments in further detail though.

Is Alex Killorn Worth His Contract?

My biased opinion is that he is and that this is a dumb question. He is a huge contributing member of one of the top Stanley Cup contending teams. Who cares if others think he's worth it?

Let's dig into the issue though...

Alex Killorn is tied for 41st in the NHL in +/- (the 5th highest Bolt)

He plays on the leagues top power play unit

He is also a part of the 5th best PK in the league

Killorn has 11 goals (T-119)

Killorn's salary is 4.45 million a season which is 7th among forwards for the Lightning

That salary is very fair for a player that contributes like he does

Additionally, Killorn is one of the most clutch players on the team and dominates in the postseason

I thought we wanted to win the cup here....

All of that information doesn't really matter though, Killer is staying. He has a no-trade clause even if they wanted to trade him. Bolts management is too smart though to think about getting rid of this key person. We get to enjoy Alex Killorn until 2023!

On to the next complaint....

Steven Stamkos is far from done

Stammer had two goals yesterday

He has 26 so far for the season

He is an All-Star

That one didn't even make sense. Next....

What about Vasy?

Oh you mean the guy that set a team record for saves, the day he returned from injury?

How anyone can criticize Vasy as a Bolts fan just blows my mind

He's an all-star too btw

Ya, But Yanni Got Paid and He Can't Score NOW!

Yanni scored again last night and he is the energy guy on the team!

He has 5 Game Winning Goals this year!

THIS TEAM IS IN 1st Place

Yes, we should look to improve

Yes, we need to figure out the rotations with 14 great F and 7 great D

Yes, we should be open to trades

More importantly though, we should enjoy the ride and step back from the ledge.

It's ok to stand pat and enjoy the team we got though too.

To steal a line from Buck Showalter "I like our guys"

- Noland

2019 And I'm Finally Back!!!!

So guys I know what you are thinking!!!

Noland you only had 2 posts in 2017, in 2018 you only had 1 post and it was an update. Where the heck have you been?

Truth is that I have been focusing on other endeavors as I said in my last post. That is still true, but I promise to post at least once monthly in 2019. The goal for now is 15 posts for the year and I think that will be pretty simple to accomplish. You will get some sports takes here. You will get a lot more if you follow me on Twitter @norob87. However, you will get much more in depth stuff here and I look forward to sharing that stuff with you.

So what has changed for me sports wise from the beginning of 2017 until now?

Well, we are Magic fans now. I no longer support the Wizards mess. I always liked the Wizards growing up, but they are much more difficult to follow in central Florida and I have lived in Florida since 2005. Also, my 6 year old son wanted to pull for the Magic, so that was an easy switch for me to make. I can watch every Magic game and I can't come close to that for the Wizards without buying NBA League pass. Additionally, once the Magic drafted Jonathan Isaac from Florida State in 2017, it was an easy switch to make. Root for the local team and Florida State star Jonathan Isaac or root for a team thousands of miles away with a gator as one of their major stars? The move had to be made to pull for the Magic.

Also we are full blown Bolts fans at this point. We (Jr. and I) finally attended our 1st hockey game and the boys in our family have Bolts fever bad!!! Jr. and I both love Killorn and he is our favorite player. Jr. even got a puck right from Killer Killorn at our 1st Bolts Game!!! He is just a great guy, a real hustle player and he's super clutch. Add in that he was nice to my boy and it's impossible to not love the guy. Eli Thomas prefers Kucherov, but who doesn't. This team is just so likable. We could all make a list of our favorite players and just love this team. Let's Go Lightning!!!! Eli will be attending his 1st game very soon also!!!

Go Noles!
Go Orioles!
Go Bolts!
Go Bucs!
Go Magic!

Lots of hot takes and informative takes to come in 2019. We are still looking for the good guys in sports here too. Luckily, Jr. and I found one in Alex Killorn!

- Noland

Is It Ever Okay To Hop On a Bandwagon

I hope that everyone had a fantastic Memorial Day weekend and that we took the time to remember our soldiers. Today though, I am going to talk about the complete opposite of the qualities it takes to be a soldier. Today's topic is bandwagon fans.

Is it ever acceptable to just hop on with a winning team or winning program, rather than just putting in the years of service with a team you have always loved? Is it ever okay to root for the good team at least in part just because they are good? When is it acceptable to others?

Bandwagon fans usually have annoyed me in the past, but a year ago, I hopped on the Bolts bandwagon and I rather enjoy it. I think that my story is a natural progression to like a hockey team and at least some bandwagon fans come to like a team in this way. The way outlined below is an acceptable way to be a bandwagon fan in my opinion. However, I do not by any means claim to be a die-hard, at least right now, at least until I am more invested. Feel free to let me know what you think, after reading the entire article of course.

I grew up in Northern Virginia, and never gravitated towards hockey. Neither of my parents liked hockey and I just never invested much time into it. It was not important to my family and I just didn't care. As much as I am obsessed with sports, I did not ever work hockey into the rotation (or golf until I was older). It was basically O's, Seminoles, Redskins and Spurs all the time. I did grow to like the Wizards as I was closer to high school because they were the local team. The Redskins I stopped rooting for when a family friend quit the team due to a poor ownership situation. Long story short though, I did not really care about hockey. For that matter though the only people locally I remember caring about hockey a great deal were my older brother (who rooted for like 5 teams) and my cousin Adam (who did like the Caps). I can never remember another person caring much about hockey. That seemed to happen after I left the state and went to college at FSU.

After graduating from FSU, I moved to Tampa and wanted to root for a local team. Several locals did suggest the Lightning, but I just was not ready to go all in on hockey and I tried to flip it on occasionally. Just was not invested though. I casually paid attention to the Storm as well and starting paying attention to the Bucs as well. When it seemed the Buccaneers would get Jameis Winston, I picked them up. The Lightning I picked up and claimed fan status a different way...

Last year, when the Lightning made it to the Stanley Cup Finals and Bolts fever swept through the Tampa area in tremendous fashion, I got caught up in it. That excitement captivated me and I was happy for the city and true Lightning fans. I gave in during those final two rounds of the playoffs and really enjoyed rooting for the Bolts. It was at that point that I decided to go in and even purchased some Bolts gear for myself. I was finally picking up a Tampa team, but it was admittedly to hop on the bandwagon of excitement that the team was bringing during a successful season.

That being said though, I picked up the team, but I am not die-hard like I am for the Seminoles or Orioles. Those will always be my two main teams. Bucs 3rd then NBA, but there is still room for the Lightning. Just in a 1 cable TV house, it means that they will never be at the forefront if a conflict exists with those other teams. For instance during a very important game 7, FSU baseball had an ACC Tournament game against Georgia Tech. I was much more interested in FSU than the elimination game. Even though technically, the Bolts played the more important game. I watched probably 10 games in full this year, but I know the players (my favorite is Killorn, he seems to be the guy who is constantly making good stuff happen in the clutch despite not being the best player) and follow the teams successes and failures. I consider myself a Bolts fan because they are my favorite and I am at least a little invested, but I am okay with those that call me bandwagon. I'm okay with it because it is true and because in this case, I feel there is nothing wrong with enjoying the ride.

Go Bolts!

I think this is an acceptable way to become a fan and hopefully most bandwagoners join their teams in similar ways. However, I do not believe that it is the case. Either way, I can't be too tough on bandwagon fans, because I did become one this once.

Next week, I will give my thoughts on the past NBA season.

-Noland