You guys ready for some hockey?

[Electricity]

And girls, of course.

I'm hoping we send a message to Detroit on Thursday. Your time has passed. Behold, the future is now.

Click to read more...

 

[VinikToWinIt]

I guess Detroit could use yet another reminder.

 

[FinnLightning26]

Can't wait for it to start. I wasn't as excited last year. I guess I suffered from Cup final hangover too

 

[The Gongshow]

Bishop, without a dou--

I mean, H.E.Double hockey stick yea!!!!

 

[Fro]

even though CBJ play Boston...I'll be cranking some Journey...

we changed the lyrics to F*** Detroit...since South Detroit is just Toledo...

 

[LTIR Trickery]

Not particularly, no

 

[Hoek]

Now that Kuch is signed, absolutely!

 

[dbieon12]

We got destroyed by Pittsburgh last year (without Bishop). Even with Bishop not sure if we could have beaten the Penguins. Yzerman kept the team together but didn't really improve the team.

 

[AlphaCatalyst]

Things I'd like to see hapen this year

- Team to stay healthy (I’m looking at you Bishop)
- Have power play that is successful similar to 2011.
- ??????
- Win Stanley Cup

 

[Werewolf]

We got destroyed by Pittsburgh last year (without Bishop). Even with Bishop not sure if we could have beaten the Penguins. Yzerman kept the team together but didn't really improve the team.

We got beat not destroyed. And we were up 3 - 2 and got two chances to close it. We did this without Stamkos, Bishop, and Callahan at 50% playing through what we know required hip surgery, and Stralman at 70%. Sustr, Drouin, Namestnikov, Kucherov are players at key top line positions scheduled to be better than last year. While the remaining players in the top 6 and top 4 are scheduled to be in the same form and not due any regression due to age or other factors. We have been proven to be able to absorb key losses to Hedman, Bishop, Stamkos, etc and continue to be a top echelon team even without them in the lineup. This is the best team we have fielded in the last 3 playoffs.

If you can't see how this team is better than last year AND better than the team that went to the SCF then you aren't paying attention mate.

 

[Hoek]

Pittsburgh arguably caught a flash in the pan. Let's see how they look now that everyone has looked at the tape. Also Crosby is out again with concussion issues.

 

[RegularSznAllStars]

We got beat not destroyed. And we were up 3 - 2 and got two chances to close it. We did this without Stamkos, Bishop, and Callahan at 50% playing through what we know required hip surgery, and Stralman at 70%. Sustr, Drouin, Namestnikov, Kucherov are players at key top line positions scheduled to be better than last year. While the remaining players in the top 6 and top 4 are scheduled to be in the same form and not due any regression due to age or other factors. We have been proven to be able to absorb key losses to Hedman, Bishop, Stamkos, etc and continue to be a top echelon team even without them in the lineup. This is the best team we have fielded in the last 3 playoffs.

If you can't see how this team is better than last year AND better than the team that went to the SCF then you aren't paying attention mate.

If we stay healthy (relatively speaking, everyone obviously gets banged up in the playoffs), we should win a cup. Probably would have won one of the last two had we been healthy, but thats in the past.

 

[Stormbreaker]

I can't wait for Thursday to get here, hockey is back in only 2 days.

 

[DaBolts]

Trick question?

After watching the (ugh) Bucs?

I've been ready for hockey since last June.

Bring it.

 

[The Gongshow]

Everything is in place. Lets go win a cup

 

[MattM92]

We got destroyed by Pittsburgh last year (without Bishop). Even with Bishop not sure if we could have beaten the Penguins. Yzerman kept the team together but didn't really improve the team.

The team is improved simply because we are a lot healthier going into this year than last year. You could tell that Johnson was off last season, same with Palat. They were constantly getting hurt and out of the lineup because of lingering injuries. We will also have a full year of Drouin in the top 6 (please...).

 

[Stamper]

My body is indeed ready

 

[LightningStrikes]

So Cup or bust, right?

 

[Fro]

sounds ok to me

here's to a Lightning/Blue Jacket ECF

 

[Bolto]

I'm ready!

 

[Hoek]

So Cup or bust, right?

Yes. I tried to downplay expectations last year, but I can't now.

 

[MattM92]

Yes. I tried to downplay expectations last year, but I can't now.

Yup. There are no excuses this time around. We've had the injury riddled season already. We've had the inexperience season. This is the strongest team in Lightning history. No reason we shouldn't win this year.

 

[MattM92]

The NHL couldn't have a better game to kick off the season? Toronto@Ottawa? Really?