Holmqvist is the man

Don't have this on any official authority but I'd say it's a pretty good bet Johan Holmqvist will start the final five games of the regular season. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out Marc Denis blew his best chance to be considered the team's No. 1 with the way he played in his past two games. Can you imagine? The guy outplays Martin Brodeur and then bites it against the Senators and Panthers, allowing eight goals on 40 shots. That kind of instability cannot happen in a playoff run, so I bet Holmqvist, unless he completely falls apart, starts the rest of the season.

This has advantages on several levels. Holmqvist knows that even if he lets in one or two bad goals, he is not in danger of being removed. That is good for his head. And the players know the position will no longer be a swinging door. It is big for Holmqvist as well. The Lightning wants to sign him again and the team will have to pay a lot more if he shows he can handle the pressure of a late-season push and a playoff run. Whatever happens, it will be interesting to see.

So it took 77 games but the Lightning finally will have a No. 1 goalie.

As for Denis, the guy works so hard I can't believe the results were so bad. But, geez, he left a gap a mile wide between his legs on Olli Jokinen's goal Tuesday and allowed Jokinen to score even though defenseman Shane O'Brien had hold of one of Jokinen's arms. And how about a poke check instead of staying back in the crease? Easy for me to say, I know. But I'm not getting paid almost $3-million  a year, either.      

Comments

[Cathy]

Damian I have to disagree with you about pulling Homer! He's been pulled alot. That messes with a goalie's head and confidence. TBL fans never know what to expect with every game. Yes there has been a lot of critical comments. Many fans know Hockey very well. Bottom line we never know what to expect. The atmosphere in the forum was sucked dry at TUESDAY'S game. My first question was why was Vinny's line D men changed. If you want the game to be offensive you don't put Marty and Vinny with Sarich and Pratt. No offense guys but the speed isn't the same as with Boyle. Denis shouldn't have started. I realize many bloggers are defending Torts and Feaster right now. I don't get the choices.

[Tony]

I would bet you are correct. Denis has had every chance to prove himself this year and although he shows flashes of great play is just not consistent enough to be a # 1.

Its also strange but the team just does not play well in front of him either. That tells me that regardless of how well he is playing they are just waiting for that soft goal to go in.

As for the people saying how much better Grahame was, are they kidding? Granted Grahame was cheaper but he was no different.

IMHO Denis has to be either moved or bought out this summer. We need a real # 1. We cannot go with a 40 Mil payroll with a decent goalie or the seats will be empty in no time. I do not think we can afford a next year with Ramo and Holmer.

With all the no trade clauses I am not sure how they expect to get under 40 unless Pratt and Sariach are gone replaced by SOB and Smaby.

[Nan]

Boy, this has been a long time in coming. How long have we the fans been asking for Holmer. Yeah, he can have an off night too but maybe knowing that the coaching staff is behind him now as #1 will be all it takes to settle him down some. And frankly if Holmer does manage to take them deep in the playoffs, then he deserves a big fat raise. Let's not worry about that now, that is for the summer. For now, let's just play some hockey one game at a time. Go Bolts!

[Phantom]

Good luck Holmer! You're on your own, Lad; we're not going to suddenly begin to display some semblance of a defense.
Coach will have to re-evaluate this attack philosophy in a month or two. (How badly do we want to rush up the ice, leaving a knock-kneed goalie behind?)
Jokinen drove on toward net because all OB was allowed to do was look futile, not jam Jokinen's face to the ice. (Driving on Brendan Witt is a different story...) Defenders hamstrung by new rules and a dysfunctional system equate to goalies with their breeches down around their skates.

Ask Daryl Sutter if he likes Richie: if yes, we'll take Phaneuf and a 4th round pick in '08 and a #2 in '09. (Tell him this is the guy to play with Iggy.) Bet it swings and we save a ton. Get some D-studs and you could put Pat Jablonski back in net. Or get a goalie for Boyle; he'd look good in a Penguins sweater if we could nick them for Fleury. Nah, get picks or a blueliner that eats his Wheaties and throws the body. We have got to start having faith in our kids. No sense in just touting Ramo, Boutin, and Helenius; get them in there and knocked around a bit, see who's got the moxy to carry the load.
Go Bolts! It ain't over you know; remember the John Madden speech:
"Never mind about the horse being blind.
Just go out and load the wagon."

Lightning Pride is Firepower....

Homer's been the best the entire year. All I have to say is Torts and Feasty must be pretty thick if they can't figure out that Denis can't win games back to back. Especially back to back to back. Go Figure.

Boyle for Fleury is a great idea. Should have been an "all-star". Cough, cough.

[Tim]

It seem all too apparent that Jay Feaster was probably behind the Denis for #1 Goalie push all season long. I can just see him in front of Torts saying, “Please John save my Job and give him at least one or two more chances, he really is better than that.”
I think even the Lutz Elementary Kindergarten class knows that Denis couldn't stop a beach ball from going in a mouse hole. This guy has been the biggest disappointment since Darren Puppa went down with a back injury. Jeff Reese has to know that Denis is pathetic. His positioning sucks his general presence on the ice in not intimidating at all. Denis is Nathan Horton's favorite goalie.
Homer on the other hand has had some quality moments in goal this year and I believe he can be the difference if the Bolts stop trying to win games with a pinching defense all the time. Sure its OK to jump in the rush occasionally, but not every time (Dan Boyle.) The best way for the Bolts to win is for everyone to play their position and stop trying to win the game all by themselves (Dan Boyle.)
With all this said the best line in Hockey also needs to step up and snipe the goal a little better than what they have of late. Vinny and Marty need to get back into their January form. The rest of the team need to step up and make some plays and hard hits. Its too late to tweek the team now, they are what they are.

[Patricia]

I have said from day 1 that this team plays different hockey with Holmer in goal. They play more confident hockey. Holmer has gotten us to this point, not Denis. I think Denis was a huge disappointment and it pisses me off what we lost for him. I can't express the passion of hate I have for Denis and his performance. I would really like nothing more then for him to be out of Tampa next season! As for Holmer, this is a new guy who does not have alot of NHL experience. Stop pulling him, give him the No.#1 spot and lets see what he can do. We take that away from him everytime. Lets have confidence in Holmer because I do think he can pull us though if we give him the confidence he needs. The players play a much for aggressive game with him in goal! I am all for Holmer and think he can do it. As for Denis......he just SUCKS!! I hope Feaster is kicking himself in the ass, knowing he disappointed all the TB fans!

Either score one more, or let in one less than the other guys. I'm not smart enough to figure out how to get these guys to do it, but I only get paid a fraction of what they do fro my occupation. If Holmer is the guy then just freakin' get it done. Agree Denis has been horrible, but Homler has given a few games away too. Anyone remember two goals on four shots before he got the old yankeroo. But either way, losing five out of seven in the final run is not Cup winning hockey. It's not all the goalies fault. Vinny has been squeezing that stick way too tight stuck on #49. How hard is it to come up with a game plan against TBL. Stop #4 and no one else scores.

[Manny]

Feaster’s prize goaltender Denis has been a huge disappointment. And it’s time for Torts to stop playing musical chairs with his goaltenders and stick with Holmer for the remainder of the season and playoffs, if we make it that far.

Our defense hasn’t exactly helped, and as much as I like Shane O’Brien he doesn’t belong out there with Boyle as a defensive pairing. All that jam is starting to spread thin. And at times Boyle thinks he’s a one man show, when he should be concentrating on his defensive responsibilities.

[Signgirl]

Finally people are realizing that Danny thinks he can do everything. Only took you guys the entire year.
Defensemen? More like almost all-star forward to me.

Just looking at the comment policy over there. I seriously doubt that most people know what "libelous" means. Just a thought.

[Signgirl]

libelous-maliciously defamatory
defamatory-injurious to reputation

Hmmm...well we've been insulting Denis this entire blog. Nice policy.

50!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Erin]

So glad to see Vinny get #50! Now it'll finally be off his mind.

As for Holmer, while not perfect tonight, he did restore a bit of faith in the TB goaltending. It also helps when your team scores 4 in front of you, something the boys don't seem to do for Denis all that often.

If they're going to do it, now's the time.

[Phantom]

Way to go (50) Vince! You win a trip to our fiftieth State!
Just kidding.
Way to go Bolts!
All you've got to do is think and do one thing:
[Only] when the final horn sounds, you can stop peppering the other guy's net with goals.
Way to go Vince! Personally I'd prefer to see 100 goals come from four guys, not two.
More good news: I'm in shock, Boyler blocked 8 shots in the past two games!
Careful, you'll get nasty-grams and cut off the Christmas card list from the Lame Defenseman's Union. No fooling, way to go Danny (and good, quick hands too...).

One game at a time, rest up and thanks for the Lightning Pride effort...

[Vinny's Advocate]

Congratulations Vinny you have earned the accolades and congratulations to Marty on a terrific game! Hope the whole team gets inspired and skates forward with wins. Way to hang in there HOLMER!

[Tim]

Congrats to Vinny with # 50. This game was a much better show than the last several goat-ropes. If nothing else it showed that the team has confidence in Homer. If he can just guard the crease and hold the other team to a minumum of 2 to 3 goals a game, I believe the Bolts can squeek by the first round of the play-offs. The second round they will likely be facing either Ottawa or Buffalo...not such a good match-up for us. However, I hope they do well and continue do us proud. We have allot to be thankful for with such a great and entertaining hockey team. And we certainly appreciate all the BS they give us to write about too.

[h29]

Congrats Vinny! It doesn't matter how you scored the 50th, you did and at the right time.

Also hats off to Jay F. I think Jason was the best Ward on the ice last night... one of the grittiest games I have ever seen in a TB jersey.

I also was impressed what a team player SOB is. That's the way to step in and defend your stars!

Great game team and one at a time!

[JB]

I feel bad for Denis. He was such a huge prospect back in the day, and then he went to Columbus, and his potential was destroyed. You can't play for a losing team for half a decade and come out of it the same kind of player. It's a shame. I think he could have been a great goalie. Maybe he'll shock us one day.

But that day is not today. Going with Holmer is the right move, and I'd go with Ramo if Holmer screws up, not Denis. There is no more time. The playoffs have already begun.

Shane is a good kid. The way he watched over Vinny's back was awesome. He's hot too.

[Cindy]

I have always agreed that Holmqvist was the better goalie and I am happy that Tort's is finally giving him the spot he deserves.
I may not have picked up on Lightning games until the end of December but have quickly found my self a big fan of Homer even when he had been pulled and Tort's puts in Denis...
I was thriller to learn that he won his first game in the NHL on my birthday!
Way to Go Homer!!!!

[Patricia]

I am very excited Holmer has FINALLY been given the No.1 spot. I think if he is given the chance and experience he can be a solid goalie that Tampa needs. I have been pulling for Holmer all season, so lets see what he can do. Get Denis out of Tampa, he sucks!