This is a bad hockey team

[chasespace]

We need a 1 a or 1b center that's not a midget

Or is actually good at being a center(not talking about Johnson)

 

[Todd1a]

Or is actually good at being a center(not talking about Johnson)

Well ya I'm fine with keeping Johnson long term great! Have one small center dump stamkos and go sign Eric staal or kopitar.

 

[wxkid23]

It's not a bad team. It's just an injured, unfocused, under-achieving team

 

[Volodya Krutov]

It's not a bad team. It's just an injured, unfocused, under-achieving team

Namestnikov scores that 4th goal and it's over. Damn frustrating it's an excusable loss, the whole group needs to get it act together once and for all, but I agree it's not a bad team per se.

 

[Volodya Krutov]

Damn Sustr is starting to grow on me, what a turnaround.

 

[BoltSTH]

Damn Sustr is starting to grow on me, what a turnaround.

Agree the Giraffe is looking much better now the Carle ball and chain has been taken off.

 

[2MinutesforGiraffing]

Apparently they've been working a lot with Sustr and it shows. Giraffes can be trained. Pylons? not so much.

 

[Glide5]

Honestly, I get this same feeling that I got in 2011. We arent a terrible team... we are just completely average Sure we can win some games, lose some heartbreakers, and have an okay season, but we are always going to be one win streak away from breaking through. It's the worst spot to be in. I either want to be in the playoffs, or have a top 3 pick i nthe draft. Thats just me, though. This season's looking like we are going to be hanging around near the playoffs, but I just dont see us getting there unless there is some major performance changes, and quick.

Also, this is why Sustr's so infuriating. He has these flashes of solid, somewhat brilliant play, but then goes back to his AHL form. Maybe this is his breakthrough stretch, but you just never know with him.

 

[Todd1a]

Honestly, I get this same feeling that I got in 2011. We arent a terrible team... we are just completely average Sure we can win some games, lose some heartbreakers, and have an okay season, but we are always going to be one win streak away from breaking through. It's the worst spot to be in. I either want to be in the playoffs, or have a top 3 pick i nthe draft. Thats just me, though. This season's looking like we are going to be hanging around near the playoffs, but I just dont see us getting there unless there is some major performance changes, and quick.

Also, this is why Sustr's so infuriating. He has these flashes of solid, somewhat brilliant play, but then goes back to his AHL form. Maybe this is his breakthrough stretch, but you just never know with him.

we just need a 6 game winning streak but we just can't break through

 

[The Macho King]

Honestly, I get this same feeling that I got in 2011. We arent a terrible team... we are just completely average Sure we can win some games, lose some heartbreakers, and have an okay season, but we are always going to be one win streak away from breaking through. It's the worst spot to be in. I either want to be in the playoffs, or have a top 3 pick i nthe draft. Thats just me, though. This season's looking like we are going to be hanging around near the playoffs, but I just dont see us getting there unless there is some major performance changes, and quick.

Also, this is why Sustr's so infuriating. He has these flashes of solid, somewhat brilliant play, but then goes back to his AHL form. Maybe this is his breakthrough stretch, but you just never know with him.

Sustr has never had a stretch of play like this.

Seriously - He looks like an NHL defenseman.

 

[2020 Cup Champions]

Just remember- it was when Stamkos went down that we found out what we had in Palat and Johnson (with help from MSL of course), and it was another injury (Connolly?) that we found out what we had putting them with Kuch. This is an opportunity for others to step up.

 

[ultra63]

sad when Sustr is the best news for the lightning

http://www.tbo.com/sports/lightning...game-in-his-third-season-with-bolts-20151219/

 

[Boltsppy]

sad when Sustr is the best news for the lightning

http://www.tbo.com/sports/lightning...game-in-his-third-season-with-bolts-20151219/

C'mon we all should be happy for that

 

[AlphaCatalyst]

There is little doubt this team has been performing below expectations.

But trying to stay positive one of the things I remember about 2003/04 is that at the start of 2004 Tampa was sitting in 10th spot in the East.

I looked it up and Tampa was 16 points behind the top team in the East on Jan 2. That team was the Flyers. On Jan 3rd Tampa beat the Flyers 6-1 and would be the catalyst for a final stretch of play where the team would only lose 6 games in regulation (and only another 6 in OT) over the final 45 games. The team would finish 1st in the East and only 3 points behind the President trophy winning Red Wings.

Standings as of Jan 2 2004

There is still a sliver of hope that the team turns this around.

 

[Kramerica Industries]

Yesterday began a stretch of 17 in 24 at home. If they aren't in a playoff position by the end of this stretch, which, mind you, will take us into the last 1/4 of the season, then I'll be really concerned. This is the Lightning's best chance to make a move in the standings.