On the road again

The Lightning have arrived in New York, where they hope to win their first road game tomorrow night against the Rangers.

So how important is this three-game, four-day sweep into Gotham, New Jersey and Long Island? Ask Brad Richards.

"The desperation level will definitely come up," he said. "We need a win on the road. It's going to be a tough week. We're a couple games above .500 and we've worked hard at home and we have to back that up by playing well on the road and getting the job done and we'll put ourselves in position at the end of the week."

So what do you think? Why have the Lightning struggled on the road? Is it more than inconsistency? And will their first extended road trip be just the cure to snap the Lightning out of its away-from-the Forum funk?

“The desperation level will definitely come up,” Richards said. “We need a win on the road. It’s going to be a tough week. We’re a couple games above .500 and we’ve worked hard at home and we have to back that up by playing well on the road and getting the job done and we’ll put ourselves in a nice position at the end of the week.”

Comments

[keith]

The Rangers, like their baseball counterparts are out to prove that big names really DO make a team. Hasn't shown yet. Someone is going to find out how good Drury and Gomez together are. Im always wary of a team that is not performing as anticipated. We saw it recently with the Caps (lost three in a row before playing the Bolts) and most recently with Buffalo, also on a losing streak before playing us. On the other hand we always hear how a multi game road trip "brings the guys together" more as a team. None of these players are new to the pressure to win. If we they are to keep up with the 'Canes early pace, these next three games are critical, even at this early stage. I say two out of three would make a succesful trip. Three out of three..........very nice!
Go Bolts!

[olin]

Tort's need's to consider finding a way to get some protection for vinny. We all know he takes care of himself just fine, but he shouldn't do that on a dailey basis, if team's are going to go after him, something need's to be done.What happen's if he is injured protecing himeslf and lost for ANY length of time.... Shane is there, I believe on that line, but...hard to break up marty-V2-V4, and move andre there. Somehow if teams continue to harass vinny, then something needs to be done, just as gretzky had mcsorley.... Good luck on this trip, get some point's to keep up with surging tougher carolina.....

[Nan]

Brad is correct in saying that they need to play desperate on this road trip starting tonight. I don't know if two out of the three prior away games are much of an indication because we all know that they haven't played well against the Panthers or the Bruins in their respective arenas. But based on the fact that the Bolts are playing pretty well at home, they should be able to do the same away! They need to jump out early and then focus, focus, focus!

[Another Joe]

I just think the early season schedule has been a disadvantage for the bolts.

I thought they played some good games but that was usually followed up with 4 days off before the next game. Now that they are starting to play more I think the road wins will come.

As far as Carolina goes i think as the season goes on they will wear down kinda like Atlanta did last year. We just cant get to far behind. They have played three more games then us and lets not forget we still have 8 games to play against them.

Lets get at least two road victories on this trip and get the season rolling. And can we score 1st on the road for a change please!!!!!!!!!!

[jr]

Can't agree that it's the layoff. The Saber game was their most abysmal yet and they played Thursday night.

This is a good game for Boiler to return. He'ss get enougnh work with 3 games in 4 dsys. I'll be at MSG tonight cheering the Bolts on. I'm wearing my poncho.

[hockey chic]

Desperation is a good thing..

It seemed to me like the guys had somewhat given up when the Marty goal/no goal ruling hit. The NHL is never going to get it right with us and until they do we (Tampa Bay)needs to be prepared to fight back each and every game. It seems the bad calls never end do they?

We need s road win and if it takes desperation to do it then so be it.

Lets Go Bolts..

[Mike13]

I agree, desperation is a good thing. It's too bad the Bolts played with ZERO tonight against the Rangers.

No puck control. No speed. No hard checks (except for Roy's hit).

If it weren't for Holmqvist's fantastic play, the score would have been --should have been-- 8-1.

Our boys had better dig deeper than that on this road trip.

[Lightning rod]

Homer kept them in the game, there is no doubt. He made some great saves last night. When he is given the time to set up and can see the puck, in my opinion he is nearly unbeatable. On the 1st goal, he couldn't see the puck until it was basically on Dawes's stick, and he wasn't set-up for the deflection. The Shanahan goal was on the D, for letting him set-up in front of Homer.

Overall, it appears more teams have figured out the Lightning's tendencies, when under pressure, of making long passes out of their zone, long passes across center ice, and the many clearing/wrap around passes along the boards in their own zone. Also, by keeping pressure on the puck handler, during the power play, the Ranger's forced errant passes that led to loss of possession of the puck or low % shots toward the goal. In fact, only a few shots actually made it to the net. The Rangers sure had those tendencies figured out, and as a result they kept the ice slanted toward Homer, after the 1st period. Buffalo did some of the same things during the last 1/2 of Saturdays game. It maybe the reasons why the Lightning has such a bad record against many NE division teams.

Hopefully, Boyle's return to his normal level of play will help; but to me he appeared to play very tentatively last night. I don't blame him; but I sure hope that it wasn't something else
that I saw.

I really like the kid from Maine, he is going to be a solid defense-man. I think it was in the 2nd period, when Torts really let Ranger know that he's lack of physical play was not acceptable; but apparently Ranger didn't or wouldn't listen. Not that the rest of the team listened either.

[jr]

The good points about the Rangers game:

1. Holmquist was absolutely outstanding.

The bad points:

1. Everything else.

The Rangers outhustled and outmuscled the Bolts for all but about 8 minutes of the game. It was an absolutely abysmal effort, worse than the last 35 minutes against the Sabers Saturday.

We may have to face the fact that this is not a very good hockey team. This is really more than a 1 1/2 game funk since the 3-0 start. Remeber, those 3 teams were a combined 2-10 at that point.

We may think the goaltending is the Achilles heel of the Lightning but Torterella doesn't think so. His up-tempo style puts a greater onus on the netminder because of the increased possibilities of breakaways and odd-man rushes.

Again, Holmer was stellar in this losing effort.

[agatha]

Hey jr, were you really at the Garden or are you shoveling it? If you really were there, what did you think of it?

P.S.Yes, Holmquist was truly zoned in.

[Another Joe]

The 3rd period penalties we seem to get in every road game is just getting stupid.

You cant give the Rangers 4 power plays in a 1-1 game. I didnt agree with the Vinny holding call not sure where that call came from but the others appeared legit calls.

[jr]

Yeah, I was there. Nice arena but noticeable lack of kids, no doubt because of affordability. I'll take the Ice Palace (!!) anytime!

[hockey chic]

Okay it looks like we agree on one thing Homer kept us in the game. To be quite honest I went to bed between the first and second periods.

The bad part was that I knew to do that as the record when they start getting horrible calls speaks for itself.

I did not see the holding call in the third period but from what my friend tells me Rick and Chief could not figure out who it was on. Lets just get over the whoa is me stuff and play great hockey so we do not need to worry about the horrible officiating.

I am hoping and praying that the lightning come out tonight in their costumes as Hockey players oh and here is a thought how bout we play like a team and get a win on the road.

Sorry for the pessimism I know it is early in the season but for god sakes lets at least play 3 /20 minute periods of hockey. Leave it all out there..

[the shrink]

Let's stop whining about calls. Not one yet this season would have turned the outcome of a game. The Bolts just aren't playing well and yes, they need to put together a complete game, not like the Sabers effort and certainly not the Rangers debacle.

[wiggy]

Previewing Thursday's game against the Devils:

---0-3-1 in last 4 games with one goal or less in 3 of them.

---Worst penalty kill special team in the NHL.

---Zubris and Elias called out in NJ for not performing up to expectations.

Looks like an opportunity for the Bolts :))

[hockey chic]

Shrink,

I am not whinning about the calls what I am saying is that we (the Bolts) cannot use the bad calls or lack of calls as an excuse.

They have to be ready to play and come out sharp not flat like they have in the past.

In addition they need to put the shots on the net. Make it simple, break it down to the basics and get down and dirty and win a game. The old fashioned way skate hard, clean, finish their checks, forecheck and protect the goalie. All basics. It really does not matter what the outcome of the calls are then. Keep it simple. Skate hard, fast and finish the job of bringing home a win.

[the shrink]

I waasn't alluding to you in particular, chic. It just seems that it's been a convenient reason for a few of the losses. I really don't think the Lightning are a very good team. Something is lacking and we can't keep pointing to goaltending. The boys haven't performed at all during the last 2 1/2 games. Usually when no one performs, it's a sign of internal strife. I hope that's not the case here.