Melrose lauds the Red Wings

Thanks to Southwest Airlines taking 40 minutes to get me my bags this morning, missed most of the morning fun at the St. Pete Times Forum. But I was able to hear coach Barry Melrose talk glowingly about the Red Wings. Melrose has a long history with the club with which he played 36 games over two seasons in the 1980s. He played four seasons for the AHL Adirondack Red Wings, and was a teammate of Detroit general manager Ken Holland. Melrose coached Adirondack for three years, winning the 1992 Calder Cup title.

"They are the model of every organization," Melrose said of the Red Wings. "Kenny Holland is the best general manager in the NHL. They're an aggressive team, but they have stability and don't panic, and I think that's great for other organizations to see. I think they are one of the five best organizations in the world in sports."

Olie Kolzig gets the start in net and Matt Pettinger gets into the lineup. Melrose said he wanted to try to generate some more offense with Pettinger, and he didn't want Kolzig sitting too long on the dispiriting loss in Washington.

Comments

[Casper]

SB1, all I can add to your excellent revelation is: I staunchly maintain even as a Bruin Bonehead in roughly your era and time frame (but only a pond player...), Gordie Howe was the greatest hockey player to lace 'em up. Ever. Without question.

Thanks again for the refreshing eloquence.

[coach bill]

Craig- Have to disagree with you on the Red Sox Nation not being true fans during a losing cycle. I've been a Red Sox fan for all my life ( I'm 64). Until '04, we were ALWAYS in a losing cycle. Tha doesn't mean you could get tickets at Fenway easily. They've been sold out since I was a kid.

[Goalman]

Hey Jiffy,
At least our mayor isn't in jail. You really should think about changing the name of your basketball team( after all you did steal it from the Fort Wayne Pistons. And now that you have Iverson, you could change the name to the Detroit Thugs.Just kidding Jiffy. I'm sure that you spend alot of money in Tampa, just as I'm sure that the people of Tampa would give up living here in order to mire through the slush and garbage on your streets in the winter. Detroit is so great that Scotty Bownman and Gordie spend most of their time down here. Like I said. Take your red shirt and go back to the hell hole known as the Ex-motor city. By the way, NONE OF MY TAX MONEY TO BAIL YOU OUT

[SarasotaBill1]

Jiffy, I guess I shouldn't have tossed those dates in there. I dated myself but hey, it is what it is.

Nobody will ever get mad at anyone who posts here regardless of who their main team is as long as everything is respectful. Over the years I've disagreed with many other Bolt fans. Doesn't mean I don't like em. Just means we disagree. Different opinions, thats all. Big deal.

I hope you understand my commentary wasn't intended to be disrespectful of the wings or their fans. It's just my opinion. As I stated, I couldn't respect their owner more. I couldn't respect their current management and success more. I couldn't respect Jimmy D who started the turnaround there more. He might be the best hockey GM ever. He developed a cup team on the island then repeated it in Motown.

Oh, by the way, being an east sider hanging around st clair shores watching hockey you may or may not remember a pretty good player from that area. He went on to have great success but not on the ice. Dave Coulier. His older brother was a good buddy and team mate of mine. Dave played for many years around St Clair Shores but later became a successful stand up comic. That led him to be cast in the TV series Full House. If you ever watched the show, he has a manequin (sp?) in his bedroom dressed in red wing gear.

OK, enough of this, I just heard Melrose was given the home game!

[jiffy]

The problem I had with a couple comments here is that you cannot lump "fans" as a singular group. I do like the Wings and DO like the Lightning. I say what I feel is right. I got pounded by a bunch of regular bloggers here a few months back when they started signing all these forwards and were not paying any attention to the defense and I was expressing my view. It sickened me to see the team here go from being just a couple players from being (in my opinion) playoff ready, to starting all over. I haven't had much to say as I was trying to give it a go.

Bill1- Yeah, I do remember hearing a little about "winter wonderland" (I am a little younger I guess). Grew up in East Detroit and spent many hours at the rink in St. Clair Shores- not a whole bunch of playing as a kid, I was a sickly punk growing up- but did watch and learned quite a bit).

I am with you as I do not care what the places are called (HOCKEYTOWN/BAY)- just looking to see some good hockey and feel we really got hosed here this year with the product put on the ice. I really hope it gets better, I am still going to attend games and watch all I can on TV because that is what I love to do. If that makes some of the blogger Gods on this site mad, well so be it. Best wishes to you and all the others here that support this team (constructive criticism and all)and not knock on other teams- without them went wouldn't have a team to cheer for!!

[rbc]

sbill is correct, we don't know each other. My point is to all people that say they are fans and then go on to trash the team and the fans and the town are not fans. Since the bolts started in "92" they were my team, plain and simple. Fans are with their team through the good times and the bad, not just when they are winning, happier when winning, but fans till the end. I take offense when people trash my team, town and fellow fans !!!Some people claim to be fans and do nothing but trash everything and yet the team they love has not won a cup in more than 40 years, yes, i will stick up for my team, town and fellow fans, too the people who don't like the bolts, stop posting and move on to your wonderful teams.

I don't go on other team blogs and diss their team, town or fans, so if your a fan of another team and you don,t like what i say, too bad kiss my a** and stay on your own blog.

[Craig]

Hockeytown is as fabricated as Red Sox Nation. When they're in a losing cycle, they're just like any other fanbase.

Philly fans are the only ones that truly "support"(assuming booing = supporting) their teams through good and bad and that's only because they're collectively retarded.

[SarasotaBill1]

Jiffy, let me express my total disdain for the "Hockeybay" name. First of all, I think it was a cheap rip off of the "Hockeytown" thing. With all the creative minds in the world one would think of that someone would have an original thought. I don't like it. Never have. Quite frankly, as a huge Lightning fan, it embarasses me.

The name "Hockeytown" came from an interview with Mike Ilitch when he simply stated he wanted Detroit to once again become a hockey town. The reporters ran with it and the public followed. Ilitch perpetuated it when he opened Hockeytown across from the Fox theatre. Call it hockeytown if you want but let's be clear, it hasn't always been a hot and glorious hockey city.

I want to be clear I have nothing against Ilitch. Exactly the opposite. I couldn't have more respect for the man. If you are from that area and remember the bad times you would remember a place called winter wonderland on Schoolcraft Ave just east of the southfield expressway. It was the first indoor ice arena open to the public and the first to offer an indoor youth hockey league. Ilitch was a huge sponsor long before he owned the wings. He sponsored a team at every level. Believe it or not, I played with Marty Howe on a Little Caesars team back in 68/69 as 14 and 15 year olds. Mark joined us the next season. Both on Little Caesar sponsored teams.

Mike Ilitch also was a huge sponsor of little league baseball in the Detroit area. His dedication to the community has continued through the years. He's done tremendous things for that city.

Jiffy, I have no idea who rbc is. I guess all I was trying to say is I don't care for the name "Hockeytown" and what it represents. I'll tell you were hockeytown is. It's anywhere 12 year old kids and their parents get up at 4am because there is a 5am game. They venture out in sub freezing weather in the middle of the night because that is the only available ice time in their town. Thats hockeytown north america. It's everywhere.

[jiffy]

Easy- Big 3 is not so big anymore...
People that I know don't move into Tampa- more the surrounding areas (Brandon, Sarasota, Palm Harbor, Clearwater, etc.)

[HOCKEYTOWN]

Well, Detroit has cleaned up the City since the Lions and Tigers are back in the City... Cheli has a few of his bars downtown... As a matter of fact, my father was married by the Wings Chaplain and had season tickets @ Olympia. I grew up playing hockey in St.Clair Shores and loved the Wings. Just two years ago watched the Whalers in Plymouth. Moved down here two years ago. I love hockey and I'm trying to watch the Lightning, but its hard to watch them.... What I'm trying to say once a Wings fan, always a Wings fan... Sorry bro you had to go through the hard times in the 80' and Stevie's first few years.. You know like I do that you see Wings stuff all over Michigan..... You just don't see the same thing down here... Don't be upset when you see all of us at last nights games... This happens here, AZ, Texas, CA and other cities....

[jiffy]

Didn't really move into Tampa, just near- Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, Clearwater, Tarpon Springs, etc. That is what happens when you put all of your eggs into one basket (Big 3- not so big anymore). Wonder no more DH... I must be really bored to be coming on this blog so much.

[Derek H]

Too bad detroit wont have the population in 20-30 years to support a hockey team...

http://www.demographia.com/db-det2000.htm

All their people moved too....Tampa?!?!

wonder why?

[jiffy]

rbc-
Why don't you check out the stats of crime of Tampa vs. Detroit....

http://www.bestplaces.net/crime/?city1=52622000&city2=51271000

I am a fan of this team. Why can't I be both? I do not understand.

[jiffy]

Bill1-
You must be good friends with rbc. I see one guy on here that talks about HOCKEYTOWN. I am a Wings and Lightning fan. I remember the "Dead Wings" of the late 70's and 80's.
Do not forget they call Tampa HOCKEYBAY- What is the difference?

[rbc]

alot nicer than detroit, i was not talking about wings fans, i was talking about the supposed bolt fans about being a fan of a team, my comment was to htown about the wings attendance, you dissing our attendance. DC, should of did this, like i said b4 we need real reporters here in tb, but go to hockeybuzz and read what ek says about our owners and fanbase along with our finances. For all you haters, seeeeeeee yaaaaaaaaa.

[SarasotaBill1]

I get a kick out of all the "hockeytown" stuff coming from detroit fans. It's as if they have packed the house forever and ruled the league over the decades. With all due respect and in complete honesty, that franchise has been the best in hockey for the last 10-15 years. Let me be clear, it wasn't always like that.

I grew up there. I used to take the Grand River bus as a young teen down to the old Olympia Stadium to watch the likes of Howe, Mahavolich (frank-the big M) his brother Pete, Crozier, Bergman and the rest. In later years I played my first junior b game for the Detroit Junior Wings at that same stadium. We played the Windsor Spitfires. First game, first shift (4th line) first goal. At 17 I was on top of the world. The first game magic was there and gone. Reality set in and I was what I was. A mucker. Considered a big player at the time, I was there to provide energy and physical play. Hard as I tried, a hockey future wasn't in the cards for me.

Anyway....I am very familar with detroit and hockey. I clearly remember the glory days with Gordie and the boys. I've seen the latest accomplishments which have been plentiful. I'm wondering why detroit fans never talk about the 70's and 80's. The team I grew up with flat out sucked. You think the Bolts sucked in the early years, and even last year and maybe today? You should have seen that collection of losers.

In the late 70's Illich bought the team from the Norris family and decided to build a new arena. Up goes the joe louis arena. I remember the early years there. In an attempt to increase ticket sales, they gave away a brand new car each home game and still couldn't draw more then 6-7 thousand. Hockeytown? Hardly. Where were all the self proclaimed long time season ticket holders then? They simply didn't exist.

Look north to Toronto and you will see a team that has pretty much sucked for the last several years but still packs em in every game. Detroit is just like most cities. Win and you have fans who have been season ticket holders for 30 years. Lose and you have an empty arena. Very simple.

A friend of mine, Gus Mollasis wrote a book called "on a wing and a prayer." Gus shares time between Sarasota and Detroit. Actually, Dearborn Michigan. He's a huge Wing fan. In his book he clearly covers the bad years. He refers to them as the "darkness years" under the wings gm/coach Ned Harkness. It was far from a hockey town then. Don't anyone be fooled by a wing fan who talks about 60 years of glory. It ain't true.

Tampa hockey fans have clearly shown that they will come if the product is at the very least respectable. When Espo was trying to bring a team here he saw the core hockey fans here. This area is full of transplants from the midwest and northeast who had grown up with the game. He knew they would show up to watch a few games. The challange was to make them Lightning fans. In most cases, his plan was successful.

In Florida, football rules. Probably always will. Nevertheless, there is a place for hockey. Look at the attendance records in Tampa over the last several years compared to other US cities. Look at all the young kids there. Over the years the fan base will continue to grow.

Forget about this team moving out of town. If Bettman won't allow Nashville to move (they could have broken their lease due to drawing less than 14,000 per game) he's not about to let Tampa go anywhere. The team is staying here. Period!

Sorry for going all over the place here. Kinda lost my focus. I just wanted to tell the wing fans I am familar with their team. Through the good and bad. Don't talk to me about the great "hockeytown" when you had so many empty seats during last years run to the cup. Kind of embarassing for a city to call themselves that and play at 70% capacity for most of the playoffs.

One last note. I don't need 20 to 25 games to make an evaluation of this mess. Some things are glaring but thats for another day!

[jiffy]

Melanie- Thanks for clarifying. I see where you are coming from!

rbc-Why do you have to make such blanket statements? So you are saying every Wings fan is a "joke"? You are telling me that there were more fans at the Forum than they get for Wings games in Detroit? Come on guy?!? I guess I forgot how clean downtown Tampa was... my bad.

[Mike P]

Melrose will be gone by Xmas... maybe Thanksgiving if they continue with these ugly losses. After 16 games I'm still not sure what his "system" is. Does he have one? Every time the camera goes to him during telecasts he's just standing there. It seems like Tocchet and Walz are doing all the coaching. Could he at least chirp at the Refs every once in a while... something?
Plus, it looks like he's lost the players. Did anyone notice Vinny dropping F-bombs as he skated back to the bench during the last powerplay. It looks like he was shocked he was being substituted, and the F-bombs were aimed at someone on the bench. Word on the street is that the players think that Melrose is a joke.
I liked Barry as an analyst... not so much as a coach.

[Craig]

^^^nice try.

[D]

Its true, this will never be a hockey city... I've tried to shop at Target, Walmart and other stores and find zero lightning t-shirts etc....

Not a big market here in Tampa..... I still think they're going to move this team and they should...

[Craig]

Tampa Bay has the disadvantage in that we don't yet have the long history and generational fanbase of teams from the Original 6 and the area is fragmented with many northern transplants who still support their "hometown" teams, like the Wings, Flyers, Rangers, Sabres, Devils, etc... and have yet to embrace the Lightning.

However, The Red Wings had trouble selling out playoff games last year. And since the lockout year, Tampa Bay and Detroit have been neck-n-neck in attendance.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance?year=2005

If Detroit finished last the previous year, you'd see a huge drop off in attendance too. Especially given the economic climate in both cities/regions.

It's ignorant to say that this city will never be a great "Hockey Town" or big on hockey. One thing I've learned since moving here from up North years ago... You can't say anything is impossible when it comes to sports in this area.

[Melanie]

Jiffy - You wrote: "I do not see why you are furious that some folks wear a different jersey for one night in 3 or 4 years?" I, but no means, am furious about that. I could care less, but I wanted to get my point across to Brian that even though I may not be in the Forum seats, I am still a TBL fan! Everyone has been hit by the recession (yes, I said it) and I am sure in time, that I will be back in the Forum cheering on the Bolts.

Melanie

[ajax]

Great article in the TImes about expectations and patience and turnover etc etc. Good reading and we are all guilty of it. So much expectations, much of it brought on by such frustration the past year or so, with owners, star players leaving, a love/hate relationship with a Cup winning coach. It will take time. I laud the owners for trying so hard, I do agree they have to show some patience themselves otherwise they send a horrible message to the players(and fans) and they have!! It is way to early to judge, yet that is the nature of the world. Lord, Gimme patience and give it to me soon. I am doing my best to be patient. Melrose is tinkering way to much. To split the MVP line sounds more like desperation than sound coaching. VL4 looks so out of sync. I see a Detroit team that moves together so intune on the ice. I see a Tampa system that really struggles to move from behind their own net, forward. Melrose should be working hard on the system instead of effort effort effort. Teach a kid how to tie his shoes wrong, and no matter how hard he tries, he will still tie them wrong. This wrap around to a stationary forward is not how you play hockey. Melrose should be screaming in their ear 10x a game until they learn they can not and will not be allowed to play that way. Yesterday's 1st period shows they can play good hockey. Yesterday's second period shows they are very fragile and revert to bad hockey when under pressure. A coach makes all the difference in the world.
PD, don't want to start the long running feud, but you are no fan of the Lightning sir. You aren't a fair weather fan, your not a koolaid drinker, you are just a blogger who is thrilled when they lose. See if you were a fan, you would write positive things when they win. You would say I am so glad to see this part of their game turn around. That is what fans of a team do. They don't write off victories as being lucky to escape etc etc. You revel in the losing streaks, and you revel in saying I told all of you idiots I was right. But you will never convince anyone on this blog that you are a Tampa Bay Lightning "Fan". You say, Adult criticism?? Adults don't criticize everyday PD, Adults recognize improvement, Adults know that looking for the positive is a much better way to exist than reveling in the negatives. Adults, they move on, they move past the rock in their shoe. The Lightning are a boulder in your shoe for some reason. The Lightning were on a 4-1-3 stretch a week ago and you were either classifying it as "escaping with a win, though severely outplayed" or you just were absent from the blog(probably steaming that the stinking Lightning were winning) Now you are happy as a pig in a poke!! What a fan you are PD. When you are so convinced this is the worst franchise in the world, I laugh and see Ottawa and your great Kuba, and Dallas with all their all-stars, both with a worse reoord than us this morning. I guess the sun does come up somewhere PD. In the three years I have been blogging I have never seen anyone quite like you, except for the "shrink" who was also from Sarasota, Hmmm I just wonder?? No that would be to obvious....maybe not.

[rbc]

You people are jokes, wings fan how come there were more wings fans at our game than any of your home games (d'town filthy). All these people come on our site and talk bad about the bolts and even supposed fans, like overnight this team and ownership was gonna be amazing? It takes time, i been a hockey fan all my life, b4 the bolts were born diehard ranger fan, now thats frustrating. This team still does not have an identity, they need to jell, give it time. That being said OK and the boys need to settle down and let the jelling start, can't jell with a new player a week. flyers, stars, sens all teams that are sucking as much as we are, Those teams are not going through 1/5 of the changes we are. chill, give it time, as long as they show effort like last night and not that abomination in sunrise, i will give them a chance. Look at the leafs over forty years of losing with nothing to show for it, they are supposedly the best and richest franchise in hockey, so if was easy to win a cup, They would have probaly had a few last forty or so years?

[jiffy]

I think Tampa is a decent hockey city- no not like a city up north anywhere- but folks here hold their own. The youth hockey isn't what it is up north but, it is much better than it was 4 years ago. Only being a 15+ year old club there is a long way to go to create a history. A good job is being done to build on that- though the owners are pulling the team in a way that will not be remembered nicely right now. There is already a Stanley Cup winning team here. This is great for the sport in general to have a successful team here and I hope they can turn it around and start looking like a team.

[HOCKEYTOWN]

Brian, You have to understand the reason you see the Wings fans is because we have the Best organizations in Hockey period... We have the best GM in Kenny Holland....
Numerous Hall of Famers with a long history..

Sorry to say, but Tampa is not a hockey city, and never will be... Wings fans are passionate about the team, and until you truly live in Detroit, you'll never understand the true meaning of a hockey city. Don't get me wrong, Tampa is a great City, but never wil be big on hockey... Who cares it was a home game last night for the Wings!!! Stop crying like a baby about the refs, it was a good game. The Wings are just a better team with better players and coaches....

[jiffy]

Melanie-
I have great respect your love for the Lightning. I do not see why you are furious that some folks wear a different jersey for one night in 3 or 4 years? (Unless they are bandwagoners- like a lot of folks that jumped on the Lighting's on their cup run and have since jumped off- maybe folks should hate them too.) I am a transplant from MI due to a job situation and have been here about 13 years. I have had half season tickets to the Lightning for the past 8 years- except this year as my son is playing too much hockey for us to attend that many games (We still have already purchased tickets to 7 games as well as parking passes). Is that not loyal enough for you? I also have the center ice package and watch as many games as I can- probably 10-12 games a week (that do not necessarily include either Detroit or Tampa). I am first and foremost a hockey fan. I do wear my Lightning gear and my Red Wings gear proudly. It is comments like the one from Goalman that actually prevent me from liking a majority of teams in this area- including the Bucs, Gators, Hurricanes, and Seminoles- I am sure that others feel the same way. I like who I like and that is the way it is- no matter where I live. I have the luxury of liking both teams as one is in the East and the other is in the West. Who come here once in a very great while and I support both. Usually my Wings jersey with my Lightning hat when the Wings come. Every other game, if I am wearing my hockey gear- it is all Lightning. I have friends that have moved from Florida to other states- and guess what their favorite teams are still the Bucs and Gators. I am not a hater, like I said I like who I like and that is that.

To Goalman: If I remember right this is The United States and I am free to express who I like- when I like. If YOU do not like it maybe you are better off in Russia, Iran, China, etc-take your pick and you can be told to like who they are for and that is it. By the way Tampa is not a whole bunch better than Detroit when it comes to crime. And if I stop spending my money as well as other transplants in this area on local fare- guess what Tampa will be in the same spot Detroit is in right now.

[PD]

"how long must i wait before i can say that this time is going exactly where it went last year. Will i still be a fair weather fans, where are all those who were kissing the collective butts of our current lightning owners and coach? where are they now."

Heh Schlomo are you a wus? More please.

I have been saying the exact same thing about this team since Barrie/Cuban lite, began his fantasy game on day 1.

The OK enablers love the OK Bolts like a 3 year old loves their mommy. All those new STARS going to take us to glory. LOL

It's more than time for adult criticism, but its also way to late to turn it around unfortunately.

This is going to get pug ugly.

[HockeyBay.com]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LQ27ypA3Xk

[Melanie]

Where are the faithful fans?? If we are not in our seats at the Forum, we are listening on the radio. I don't have cable so I can't watch it on TV. I can't afford to go to all the games. I was absolutely furious when I saw that comment from Brian. So just because I am not in the stands doesn't mean I am not a fan. I wear my TBL gear proudly! I am a fan!! I am proud to be a fan!! The team may not be up to everyone's standards but that doesn't mean that they can't turn things around. I am frustrated just like everyone else. BUT THE LIGHTNING WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN. There is still time in the season. Patience is a virtue...trust me I am a mother of 2 girls, I know something about patience...even if we don't win the Division this season, that doesn't mean we won't win the next season!! It's not going to happen over night, there are too many new faces. It's going to take time. Besides, I don't think any of us could get out there on that ice and do what those guys do. I have faith and I think that with time, the team will develop a system and things will work out fine.

GO BOLTS!

A proud fan,
Melanie Ware

[Nick (the Brit)]

Problem is simple - Lawton and the new owners (aka excited schoolboys) have got confused between Hockey Fantasy League and the real NHL. When they can stop sulking because the toy they gave themselves for Xmas is not working they might want to have a reality check and make some much needed Management changes starting with Lawton.

[Nick (the Brit)]

Problem is simple - Lawton and the new owners (aka excited schoolboys) have got confused between Hockey Fantasy League and the real NHL. When they can stop sulking because the toy they gave themselves for Xmas is not working they might want to have a reality check and make some much needed Management changes starting with Lawton.

[Goalman]

The reason there are so many Red wing fans here is because most of Detroit is unemployed or going to be.Take your Red shirts and go back to mugging city

[Mike S.]

Awesome 1st period and last 2:41 of the 3rd. Maybe if they can put 2 (or even one) more together they'd have something.

[Boltflasher]

The first period was the best hockey I have seen them play yet this year. Then the penalty parade started and back to the old ways we go...

V$ finally showed some passion there due to the bloody lip with 13 seconds to go. A bit late in the game for some passion...

[Steve-O]

I like DC's article about patience -vs- too much tinkering. Just when I start to learn the names & #'s of the players they send guys away. I mean we gave up Boyle only to give the booty (a pirate term) away? At times you can see the silver lining but at times you can see glaring holes. I am most concerned that you can see blood on your captains face and no one steps up. Your goalie is getting pummeled and jammed and no one steps up. Turning the ship starts with fighting for your team mates and I don't just mean punches but a few of those are appropriate as well. Its about the guy in the foxhole next to you when you go into battle. You got his back and he's got yours. Start there and forget about all the rest. Us against the world and the only friend you have is on the bench/ice next to you. Just fight for that guy! Not the coach, not the owners, not the fans. They hold parades for the guys that fight the best and win. Want the puck, get the puck, SHOOT the puck! Fight! Go Bolts!

[BoltsFan91]

Hey DC, not everyone is going to listen to me as a comment, but I think that you should put the link up for the All Star Ballads and tell everyone to do a write in for Smith multiple times. You can vote as many times as you want. We need to get Smitty in the goal for part of the All Star game. He deserves it.

[rod]

Here's what I watched last night:

The Red Wings came in our house overcame a 2 goal deficit and left our superstar with a bloody lip (LITERALLY) on their way out.

Wow.

and i was just reading on here that one of our season ticket holders gave their tickets to red wings fans????? What the ----? Sorry I just thought season ticket holders were fans.

[schlomo]

how long must i wait before i can say that this time is going exactly where it went last year. Will i still be a fair weather fans, where are all those who were kissing the collective butts of our currtent lightning owners and coach? where are they now.Those that criticized me and put me down and told me i didnt know what i was talking about. I said it before and i will say it again. Ok and his buddies are just a bunch of wanna be hockey players who are living out their dream of being in the NHL after failing as players. They have not made any moves that have benefited the team, and left all of us wondering and scratching our heads. This team is a collection of band aides nothing more. They tried to buy championship and fell short, and no one can say that we should "wait and see". This team is tired and inept. and though some might be playing their hearts out, most seem like they don't care. This team has truly fallen far. One year wonders, The heart and soul of this team was either let go or traded.I am sure V4 is regretting that contract now.

[jiffy]

What is up with blaming the refs? You think they actually prefer to let one team dominate year after year??
You folks must not have seen the game on Tuesday when the Wings played the Pens. With Det up by 2 and played twice down two men?? The NHL is looking for high scoring- and hopefully- close games to keep interest for the people on the edge of giving up on the sport.
Blame who you want but, it is still the players playing (for 60 minutes) and the coaches coaching.
How many times were the Bolts offsides last night?? Their transition game is just awful. I agree they buried their chances early and had the Wings on the ropes. Even when the Wings came back and had a one goal lead the Bolts could have kept playing hard and they did not. 11 shots total after the first period (3 in the second) just awful.
Defense. Defense. Defense.

[Hockey Chic]

Good morning fellow posters,

Well I gotta say I agree with most of what coach bill said, but I did see the heart I was talking about in my last post.

I did not see it through the whole game, but I did see it. I thought for sure the call from the war room was going against us. It always seems to and I told the Wings fans behind me that was going to be the case, but I was wrong. woo hoo.

It gave us a fighting chance and we should have put it away then. I liked the first period and being up 2 goals but I agree the second period was bad. It was like ok we are set lets rest on our laurels. Cannot happen fellas. We need consistency throughout the game.

I hate this phrase but 90 minutes of hockey. Or hell 3 twenty minute periods, whatever it takes.You guys fought hard in the third and came up short. Nice try though.

OK, you need to leave the team be for the mean time unless of course you want the mullet to go I would shoot for that. I have heard over and over again that this all started with the Boyle trade and I could not disagree more. This started the year of the lock out and we have been fighting an up hill battle since.

Get some much needed rest and good luck in Carolina. The chic is headed for Ft Myers and a weekend of tournment hockey. See you guys Tuesday night.

Go Bolts!!!

[coach bill]

Olin- I missed Bingo, but caught Lightning Rod in the 1st period. Lots to think about during the 2+ hours to drive home. There were some highlites and too many lowlites.
The Lows: The worst 2nd period in Lightning history. Lethargic would be a compliment. We've suggested that there's a morale problem that needs to be corrected. If anyone needs to get a lift from our captain, it's Vinny (oops- he IS the captain).V4 was not himself- just meandering through the neutral zone without much passion. Where was the A2KN of the past week? No hits and a very sub-par showing. Grats looked like he can no longer keep up.I've been concerned about our leadership and coaching, Now I'll say it's time to pull the plug on Melrose. OK Sports came in with a great attitude but didn't have a foundation of hockey personel to build on. Where was the thinking of NOT drafting a defense? Mez and Emminger ( and Ranger) are hanging on.
The highlites: Yussi, Kolzig ( and Smitty),Pettinger,Recchi, Prospal. Plus we got to meet Boltflasher ( Hockey Chic, me, Flaher, and Tackleberry are on for Dec.!8 happy hour( a Thurs vs. Colorado). Watch for more on that. I talked with the real shots server ( Leeanne) at Shots and she can't wait for our return.
Overall a very dissappointing night. Good night all

[Kipp]

Can we pleasepleaseplease get rid of Lundin? He's obviously years away from being ready and I really doubt that Mihalik or Smaby could be as awful as he has been.

[Boltflasher]

Wow, alot of traffic to and from the SPT Forum tonight...all those Wings fans! Anyway,....very glad to have met Coach Bill, Chic, Tackleberry and others!!! Very gracious all, and thank you!

[PD]

Gotcha on the frustration Brian, especially FPL but Cookes hit wasn't intentional.

Not sure what's left to be said. Great 1st period but probably because they were scaredhitless of being totally humiliated.

I guess the Carolina game will be the trick of the tale.

[Brian]

I know, they don't play until Sunday. So now they get two days to think about it and let it fester. We can start by winning in our division, at least for the love of _____....A W in carolina might spark something...16 minutes of ice time for V4. Gotta be his shoulder.Matt Cooke from last year on the caps, the last game of 07-08.You can't let them take your star player out, you have to protect them.

[Brian]

Is is me, or did melrose just stand there when he was profusely bleeding from his mouth! Torts would have screamed his head off at the refs. It seemed to me that the refs wanted to go home and get this thing in the books.GRRRRRRRR!!!!

[Det 4 TB 3]

brian don't forget the Hurricanes.

[olin]

....hej hockey chic, I believe we have a new jumbotron celebrity to take your place, I could be wrong but I think Bingo Mike happen to show up there tonite...sweet mal by jussi!

[Brian]

I'm sorry I had to get that off my chest. To see us as perrenial champs and go to disappointing losses pains us. I mean we can't protect our house?I love the forum. I love the smell of it. I can't go, because I'm unemployed right now just paying my bills. It's a combination of things. I want to come out and support our team with a vengence. But I can't. Thats another thing that frustrates me even more. When I watch them play, I can't turn the t.v. off, because what if they do turn it around in a game? Sorry, I'm just frustrated. Everybody criticizes our fans, our teams etc... I just try to justify when we do win, it makes it all the worth while.I'm not a band wagon fan and this is the team, teams I'm married to. I'm a loyalist.I can't watch us go through pain staking years, win titles, and then jump off the wagon. It's just not me.I beleive we can turn this around and I will complain when we lose. I guess I don't like the rebuilding process.That is eminent. I certainly don't like to watch V4(Thanks Don)get elbowed to the face and no one does anything about it.Just let them go, let them walk all over us !! It's accepted. No it's not acceptable. Someone should pay for that.