One to forget -- or remember

As three tired scribes and one photographer rode up the elevator up to the street level at Continental Airlines Arena, one veteran writer put it well.

"This might be the one they remember when it's all over."

The Lightning's 5-3 loss to the Devils tonight in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals was frustrating for Tampa Bay. The Lightning offense played well enough to win on most nights, but Tampa Bay also made enough mistakes to lose on most nights. The Lightning received the usual boost from the duo of Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis.

But we all knew that if the Lightning was going to win this series, it would have to show its share of resilience. Now, it has to show more just to have a shot.

After the game, Lightning captain Tim Taylor put it well. They came to Jersey to take one of two. They haven't done that yet. And it makes Saturday's Game 2 the biggest game of the Lightning's season.

That's pressure. And for all the talk that John Tortorella has recited about how the core of this team has grown, now it's time to show up -- when they are behind the eight ball.

They did it after Christmas. Now they have to do it again.

As for goaltender Johan Holmqvist, he has that first playoff game behind him. And he's been remarkable at putting bad games behind him. Expect him to play better Saturday.

Now if it can just all come together.

Comments

[Phantom]

Forget this one until after we win game seven; then remember it. In practice, Coach drills, screams at, and then rests these guys; so there must be some hard heads out there tuning out Torts' teaching. There's the lesson I think they'll pick up; come ready to play. Be focused on nothing else but sheer intensity when your shoulder is tapped.
BTW- if you want a lesson in intensity, watch how Brodeur comes out Saturday. He's quiet and determined that he's coming out to stone our amped up vinegar.

[JB]

If Game 2 looks like Game 1, then in Game 3 it's Ramo or bust.

[Jesse Maginnis]

Goals number #1 and #4 for Jersey sucked.

[Nan]

My worse fears came true! Yup, our goaltending was bad last night and without Holmer playing better, our boys will be out in 4. I could see how first game jitters might have taken hold, maybe Holmer didn't sleep at all the night before, who knows, but one thing we do know is, he better show up for the next game. Also turnovers against a team like New Jersey is going to kill them. If the Bolts had shown up in the first period and not waited until the second, maybe the outcome would have been different! At least the MVP line was working last night!

Did tampa get the memo that this is the playoffs and not just some scrimmage?? Were they actually there lastnight? That was probably the worst game that I have seen during a playoff run. They made so many mistakes that I actually felt bad for Holmer. They left him out there by himself in his first playoff game. Now I know Holmer, will forget about this game and play like crazy on Saturday. As for the rest of this team. They just played like shi-!!

[Tim]

WTFHH, this is seriously a listless slumping team that can grievously squander that kind of a come back in the third period. For all of the gaining of momentum that it took, the MVP manner of play from Vinny Lecavalier, the great hustle from Marty St. Louis, and then to turn around and crap it away like some scared little third grader handing away his lunch money to a bully, this was absolutely inconceivable.

Holmer, wake up...you’re in the play-offs pal!

Craig Ramsey must have took a big time cerebral leave of absence for this one. How can you expect to win the first round of the play-offs with that kind of listless mental errors and crappy defensive play? I would say that only about 20 percent of the team was ready to play last night. The other 80 were just completely unwired. For what its worth this team took a big lesson in Jersey Devil humility. You can say it over and over a thousand times, one too many mistakes in the play-offs, especially against the Devils, and you will be watching the next round. The lightning have 3 more chances to get it right and get their groove back on, or it will be back to the drawing board for another attempt at a successful season.

Of all the teams, the Bolts looked liked the worst in the play-offs, with the exception of the Penguins. There should be no excuses, they just need to get their head and a** wired together and play like a hockey TEAM instead of like the 6 individuals that I saw playing most of the night.