RedWingsRox 614 Report post Posted January 26, 2011 Wow, when did Tampa Bay sneak up on the rest of the Eastern Conference to end up 2nd?? What are they doing right this year? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Finnish Wing 110 Report post Posted January 26, 2011 Sean Bergenheim. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hockey Convert 55 Report post Posted January 26, 2011 From what I've seen, what they do right is score ridiculous numbers of goals. I think their problem is consistency, maybe defense. Some games they seem to absolutely blow teams out, others they get blown out themselves. If they can tighten it up and get consistent goal tending (Roloson seems to be helping this already), it seems like they could be scary. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SDavis35 140 Report post Posted January 26, 2011 From what I've seen, what they do right is score ridiculous numbers of goals. I think their problem is consistency, maybe defense. Some games they seem to absolutely blow teams out, others they get blown out themselves. If they can tighten it up and get consistent goal tending (Roloson seems to be helping this already), it seems like they could be scary. Agree. I think Stevie deserves a ton of credit for what he's done, but I also think the team's play is benefiting from the coach. Rollie has 3 shutouts as a member of the Lightning so give some consistency and TB's got the best team in a while. Even scarier is that last night during the Leaf game I heard "Let's go Lightning" cheers... didn't know they had enough fans for that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
akustyk 84 Report post Posted January 26, 2011 I like what they're doing, but have this gut feeling, that they'll be thrashed in the first playoff round. because of this inconsistency and lack of experience. I hope I'm wrong, but they have the "young inexperienced team" written all over them... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doc Holliday 1,888 Report post Posted January 26, 2011 As of right now I don't see them as a contender. Their defense is too spotty and the goaltending is going nowhere (Rolli is 41 and Ellis is a sieve). Yzerman will at least be able to watch how they perform in the playoffs to get a good perspective on what he needs to change though. Great start by him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ShanahanMan 473 Report post Posted January 26, 2011 As of right now I don't see them as a contender. Their defense is too spotty and the goaltending is going nowhere (Rolli is 41 and Ellis is a sieve). Yzerman will at least be able to watch how they perform in the playoffs to get a good perspective on what he needs to change though. Great start by him. Can you really blame the guy given his current financial situation? 1 acidroach420 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjlegend 155 Report post Posted January 26, 2011 If the playoffs started today, TB would play the Habs. Having seen Carey Price play in the playoffs (5-11, cough cough), I think the Lightning could win that one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HOCKEY MATTERS 167 Report post Posted January 26, 2011 From what I've seen, what they do right is score ridiculous numbers of goals. I think their problem is consistency, maybe defense. Some games they seem to absolutely blow teams out, others they get blown out themselves. If they can tighten it up and get consistent goal tending (Roloson seems to be helping this already), it seems like they could be scary. EEEEErrily similar to the Wings..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T.Low 1,011 Report post Posted January 26, 2011 Wow, when did Tampa Bay sneak up on the rest of the Eastern Conference to end up 2nd?? What are they doing right this year? Just to clarify, Tampa has been in the top 5 of the East pretty much since the git go this year. It is really strange to see a team that high up in the standings that has a plus/minus diff hovering around even or -1 all the time. They give up a bunch of goals but usually score a little more. Then they have a game where they give up a bunch of goals and don't score any. St Louis has always been a dynamite player, but now he has Stamkos and they are awesome together. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted January 26, 2011 This man will kick your ass. He should also be coach of the year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted January 26, 2011 This man will kick your ass. He's not tougher than his brother. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heroes of Hockeytown 694 Report post Posted January 26, 2011 What are they doing right this year? My guess is it has something to do with this guy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WhiteLightning91 105 Report post Posted January 26, 2011 They may not be as extreme of an example when it comes to a defensive liability, but this team reminds me of Washington circa 2008-09. I do not see them as a serious contender come playoff time, at least this year. But alas, stranger things have happened, or else I'd be a rich, rich man living off of Vegas... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedWingsRox 614 Report post Posted January 26, 2011 I don't really follow Tampa but here's the thing ... their core of Stamkos, Lacavalier, St. Louis, Malone, Ohlund, Hedman were there last year and they were 12th in the Eastern Conference ... like 25th in the entire NHL. They pretty well failed in their goalie acquisition with Ellis and Nittymaki until landed Roloson (which in itself is a bright GM move ... maybe even bettered Holland's attempt to get Nabby ). They did get new coach and new GM + gained 1 year of experience ... anyways, just wanted to say that I am impressed with how quickly they turned it around whether they are playoff tested or not, we'll see. It usually takes another year or two but so far, kudos to Yzerman! ... 'cut from the same cloth'. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Finnish Wing 110 Report post Posted January 26, 2011 They pretty well failed in their goalie acquisition with Ellis and Nittymaki until landed Roloson How exactly, care to explain? The guy had a career season last year, was one of the best in the league in regular season. The only thing Tampa failed with him was not re-signing him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Datsyerberger 279 Report post Posted January 26, 2011 Agree. I think Stevie deserves a ton of credit for what he's done, but I also think the team's play is benefiting from the coach. Rollie has 3 shutouts as a member of the Lightning so give some consistency and TB's got the best team in a while. Even scarier is that last night during the Leaf game I heard "Let's go Lightning" cheers... didn't know they had enough fans for that. Joking or not, this is a frequent mistake people make about TB because it's in the south and they make an assumption. The problem with that assumption is that the part of Florida TB is in is occupied by Michiganders, Northeastern folk, Snowbirds, and their families. Here's some fun attendance numbers: 00-01 25th in league (this was before they were ever a good team) 01-02 20th in league (ahead of a canadian team and 2 o6 teams) 02-03 16th in league 03-04 12th in league (ahead of 3 canadian teams? blasphemy!) 04-05 DNP 05-06 2nd in league (this was the first season after their cup, but also with a year gap because of the lockout) 06-07 3rd in league 07-08 8th in league (their play/team had already been declining after the lockout) 08-09 21st in league (at this point, they're in the dumps, but still near even with the Oilers) 09-10 21st in league 10-11 19th in league (and so begins the recovery) And so there are some interesting numbers. At their best, they're capable of supporting sustained revenue and attendance that's at or near the top of the league. At their worst, they're ahead of both expansion and earlier (and occasionally, even some Canadian) teams that are in similar or better shape. For comparison, the Ducks were never better than 15th in attendance, even after a cup, and even the highly successful Avalanche were doing no better than 8th to 10th in the early 2000s. Tampa Bay was a brilliant locational choice for an expansion team, due in large part due to the makeup of the population (as well as that of the Sarasota/Bradenton area and most the rest of the gulf coast of the peninsula). I'd really like to see what happens if Stevie can give them some sustained success. They have the market potential to be a financial and marketing powerhouse. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
taxijim 11 Report post Posted January 26, 2011 I think besides Stevie Y's brilliance it has to do with Stamkos....the guy is now leading the league scoring with Crosby out & leads PP goals & pts.This guy is the next big thing,yet even here in Canada you hardly hear his name mentioned...I think a lot of hockey fans don't even know what the guy looks like because the media is flooded with Crosby & Ovie & yet he may be just budding out as the best player in the world. A lot of this is due to Tampa games hardly ever being shown nationally being down in the Sunbelt. With a supporting cast of St.Louis,LeCalviere, & now a reliable goalie this has become a real team......and soon people will notice! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Original-Six 254 Report post Posted January 26, 2011 This man will kick your ass. He should also be coach of the year. Bring it on.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
10 Minute Misconduct 104 Report post Posted January 26, 2011 As of right now I don't see them as a contender. Their defense is too spotty and the goaltending is going nowhere (Rolli is 41 and Ellis is a sieve). Yzerman will at least be able to watch how they perform in the playoffs to get a good perspective on what he needs to change though. Great start by him. Roloson is better then Howard. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doc Holliday 1,888 Report post Posted January 26, 2011 ^ Looks like a creepy super villain. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Canadian_Yzerman_Fan 7 Report post Posted January 26, 2011 This man will kick your ass. He should also be coach of the year. Apparently super-villains make good coaches. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hiei 192 Report post Posted January 26, 2011 Dwayne Roloson is what is propelling this team forward. 2006 Oilers. nuff said. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
