Being a team captain in the NHL carries a number of duties.  Officially, captains (or alternate captains) are the only on ice players allowed to communicate with referees regarding interpretation of the rules.  This usually happens on plays when there is confusion, such as whether or not a puck crossed the goal line or if the puck goes out of play.  This is done mainly to ensure the refs are not... 

When the time is right there is nothing to do or say except to make the change.  It’s time to get the wrong person out of there and move someone else into place.  By their nature, however, midseason changes are a drastic move and should not be taken lightly.  The chemistry a team develops over the preseason and regular season flows over into the coaching staff as well.  By replacing the coaches... 

A matinee game, 3:00 start, on Halloween in Tampa. Devils invade the St Pete Times Forum on Saturday afternoon and kids, under 12 in costume, see professional hockey for free. In this second meeting between these teams, the Lightning hopes to keep their home unbeaten (4-0-2) streak alive. In the previous game, in Tampa, the Neh Jersey Devils tied the game and won in a shoot-out. The Devils (7-4-0)... 

The Ottawa Senators showed little hospitality when they hosted the Tampa Bay Lightning on Oct.15th. The Senators scored 7 goals on way to trouncing the traveling team. Tampa Bay has yet to win a road game this season, but fortunately they will be meeting this time at the St Pete Times Forum; home, sweet home. Vinnie Lecavalier scored against Buffalo on Saturday and hit the crossbar in the shoot... 

The Tampa Bay Lightning (2-3-2) begin a 4 game home-stand, facing the high scoring San Jose Sharks (5-3-1).  Center Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley, and Patrick Marleau are all in the league top ten scorers.  Joe Thorton leads with 14 points, while sharp shooter Heatley has 6 goals and 6 assists.  The Sharks have played 6 road games so far while only playing at home 3 times.  The team is on a 2... 

In an ugly game on Thursday night, Lightning netminder Mike Smith showed signs that he may not be the “number one guy” in Tampa after all.  At least not yet. Since acquiring Smith from Dallas in a trade for Brad Richards, Smith was essentially anointed as a premier starter, without really ever earning that title.  Considering Tampa’s woes in net the past few years, no one can really blame... 

Holy Michalek !  The Ottawa scorer had nine shots on goal and three of them escaped Smith’s reach.  How do you think the Tampa Bay Lightning played last night at the Scotiabank in Ontario?  Place A 7-1 final score says it all. The ‘Bolts must have experienced some serious jet-lag taking the long trip across the Canadian border.  No one, and I mean no one, played to their full potential... 

The Ottawa Senators are coming off a 4-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.   In 5 games the Senators have only been able to score 12 goals, while giving up 14, but they still have managed to win 3 of the 5 games. Their power play has only managed 1 goal in 15 attempts, but their penalty killing squad has been exceptional.  Led by Chris Phillips and Anton Volchenkov, the defense is solid and goaltenders...