Game 20: Tampa Bay Lightning (9-9-1) At New York Rangers (8-8-2)

The New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning are very possibly the two most underachieving teams so far in the NHL this season. After a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, the Rangers were expected to match and surpass that success this season, but that hasnt happened. they are operating at merely a point a game, same as the Lightning, and most shockingly have averaged a mere 2.39 goals per game, this a team with Brad Richards and Rick Nash, a team that was expected to have a potent offense. The Rangers got out of a slump a but but are now staring at a four game losing streak, averaging just 1.5 goals per game over that stretch.

The Lightning meanwhile, continue to slump after a 6-1 start. They are just 3-8-1 over their past 12 games, averaging 2.77 goals per game over that stretch. This slump began with a 3-2 loss against the Rangers, and despite the Rangers struggles, the Lightning are 0-2 against them this season, scoring just 3 goals in the two games, and allowing 8. One of the biggest problems over the slump has been the power play, since going 1-1 in the first loss to the Rangers February 1st, the Lightning are 4-41 on the power play in the last 11 games, 9.8%, a percentage worse than the 30th ranked power play in the league. The hot start on the power play still has the Bolts near the top of the league, but its getting close to falling below 20%.

Stamkos is now up to 30 points on the season, which would put him on pace for a staggering 129 in an 82 game season. The Rangers are led in goals by Marian Gaborik with seven, half as many as Stamkos. Gaborik also leads the team in points with 12, eighteen less than Stammer.

The Lightning will be without defenseman Sami Salo, who is day to day with a lower body injury. Salo is one of only two competent defenders on the team along with Hedman so this could mean trouble.

It appears Garon will get the start in net again, and maybe he has taken over the number one job. Despite only two wins in seven starts his GAA is far better than Lindback, 2.63 compared to 3.27.

Head to Head
Goals Per Game: Rangers: 2.39 (23rd) Lightning: 3.68 (1st)
Goals Against Per Game: Rangers: 2.56 (12th) Lightning: 3.11 (24th)
Save Percentage: Rangers: .911 (10th) Lightning: .897 (24th)
Power Play: Rangers: 11.1% (29th) Lightning: 22.1% (7th)
Penalty Kill: Rangers: 83.6% (10th) Lightning: 83.1% (13th)

Around the southeast: Hurricanes are at home facing the Penguins. The Panthers are also at home facing Buffalo, and the Jets are also at home facing the Devils. The Caps are off after losing badly last night.

Miller stands on his head, delivers Sabres to win over Lightning 2-1

The 6-13 Buffalo Sabres were reeling coming into the game, and just 1:16 into this one the Lightning already had a 1-0 lead as Stamkos tipped in a rebound past Miller. It appeared to be a good start to an expected win. But the Sabres tied it up quickly leading to a 1-1 game heading to the second. After that the Bolts got four power plays in the second, and an extended 5 on 3, but failed to score, opening the way to a Sabres lead just 52 seconds into the third, a lead they wouldnt relinquish, as Miller made some great saves for a 2-1 win.

The Lightning finished the game 0 for 6 on the power play, dropping their overall percentage for the season to 22%.

the Lightning outshot the Sabres 31-21, but I thought the chances could have been better. As per the usual lately, they passed up several good opportunities to try and make an extra fancy pass.

Stamkos is now up to 14 goals in the season, and has been on a tear lately. 14 goals in 19 games would put him on pace for 60 in an 82 game season.

This one was brutally tough to swallow, a game they simply should not have lost, it hurt. But stunningly, despite a below .500 record, the Bolts are still tied atop the division, but now its a 3 way tie with Winnipeg entering tying the Bolts and Canes, the same Winnipeg dead last in penalty kill in the NHL and that the Bolts mauled 8-3.

A four game road trip starts tomorrow in New York. Then onto Boston, Pittsburgh, and New Jersey, really a brutal road trip.

Southeast Standings
1. Carolina Hurricanes: 19 points
2. Tampa Bay Lightning: 19 points
3. Winnipeg Jets: 19 points
4. Florida Panthers: 16 points
5. Washington Capitals: 15 points

Game 19: Buffalo Sabres (6-12-1) At Tampa Bay Lightning (9-8-1)

the Lightning are about to get a much needed break from their brutal schedule. The dumpster fire that is the 2013 Buffalo Sabres come to town. After a promising start to the season the Sabres are 4-13, theyve lost 4 in a row and six of their last seven. Theyve scored a mere 10 goals in their last seven games. As bad as theyve been, they still have the leading goal scorer in the NHL in Thomas Vanek on their team. How bad would they be if they didnt have him?

Looking deeper into why Buffalo has been so bad this year, shots against is a good place to start. Theyve allowed 35 or more shots an astounding 8 times this year, making the Lightnings 4 times look good. They are dead last in shots allowed per game, 28th in goals allowed, 20th in goals scored, dead last in power play percentage and near the bottom in penalty kill.

Head to Head
Goals Per game: Sabres: 2.47 (21st) Lightning: 3.83(1st)
Goals against per game: Sabres: 3.32 (28th) Lightning: 3.17 (25th)
Save Percentage: Sabres: .901 (20th) Lightning: .897 (23rd)
Power Play: Sabres: 11.3% (30th) Lightning: 23.9% (6th)
Penalty Kill: Sabres: 79.2% (20th) Lightning: 82.8% (12th)

Around the southeast: Jets are on the road taking on the Rangers, Caps and Canes face off in DC, and the Panthers are facing the Penguins at home. 

Slow start dooms Bolts, fall to Pens 5-3

Just 1:16 into Sunday nights game and Crsoby had alreayd roofed a shot past Lindback from the slot. At the 7:15 mark, Crosby got another goal, although this one was a bit of a lucky one, as Lindback lost one in his crease that sneaked in. With 34 seconds left in the period, Paul Martin put one in and the rout appeared to be on. 3-0 after a period, and Lindback continues to get worse after a promising start. Garon was put in for the second period and the Bolts woke up. Two goals in the first 3:14 of the second put it within a goal, but when the Pens got a 5 on 3, they were able to extend the lead back to two heading to the third. Just 3:15 into the third, Cory Conacher got the Bolts within a goal at 4-3, but they were unable to tie and an empty netter from Matt Cooke with a minute left sealed the deal.

The story of this game to me is Anders Lindback. He has looked worse and worse as the season goes along and this game was absolutely atrocious. Many are calling for Garon to be moved up to the number one slot, but I still think the team has more upside with Lindback in net. I cant see them riding Garon to a division championship.

Stammer had three points to make it a league leading 29. What a beast

Thats all from this one, Im trying to get the preview for tomorrow nights game prepared

Southeast Standings
1. Carolina Hurricanes: 19 points
2. Tampa Bay Lightning: 19 points
3. Winnipeg Jets: 17 points
4. Florida Panthers: 14 points
5. Washington Capitals: 13 points

Game 18: Tampa Bay Lightning (9-7-1) At Pittsburgh Penguins (12-6-0)

The two most potent offenses in the NHL go head to head for the first of three meetings this season Sunday night. The Penguins will be playing without one of their two superstars in Evgeni Malkin, who is out for the time being with concussion symptoms.

A win tonight would give the Lightning their first three game road winning streak since the end of the 2010-11 season, a very long time.

The Penguins are led in goals by James Neal with 12, tied for Stamkos with the lead league. Crosby leads in points with 25, one behind Stamkos who has 26.

Despite a 12-6 record, the Penguins are a mere .500 team at home with a 4-4 record.

Marc Andre Fleury will likely get the start for the Pens. He has a 9-3 record this year with a 2.22 GAA

Head to Head
Goals per game: Penguins: 3.28 (2nd) Lightning: 3.88 (1st)
Goals against per game: Penguins: 2.50 (14th) Lightning: 3.06 (23rd)
save Percentage: Penguins: .909 (15th) Lightning: .902 (20th)
Power Play: Penguins: 27.4% (3rd) Lightning: 23.2% (8th)
Penalty Kill: Penguins: 83.1% (12th) Lightning: 83.9% (9th)

Around the southeast; The Panthers are home to take on the Bruins. the Jets are on the road to take on the Devils, The Canes are also on the road taking on the Islanders. The Caps are off. 

Bolts regain first place in Southeast, use hge third period to blow Hurricanes away 5-2

The first and second periods have been decent periods for the Bolts this season, but the third period is where they come to life. A four goal third period outburst fueled a 5-1 Bolts win Saturday night, their largest single period goal output of the season. Marc Andre Bergeron got the scoring started halwway through the first to make it 1-0 Tampa. The 1-0 score held up through two periods as it looked like we may have a goaltending duel on our hands. Through forty minutes Mahtieu garon had stopped all 23 shots he faced. At 2:11 of the third Benoit Pouliot gave the Bolts a 2-0 lead, seeming to maybe put the game away. But just 53 seconds later, the Canes got on the board and we all of a sudden had a one goal game again with lots of time left. Then, Lightning struck in a big way. ALex Killorn earned his first career NHL goal and just 18 seconds later Tom Pyatt tucked one in and all of a sudden the lead swelled to 4-1. Each team swapped goals late including Stammers 12th of the season for a 5-1 final.

Garon earned his second win of the season, both wins in Carolina, and ended a personal three game losing streak.

The Lightning got 39 shots on net, a great sign for a team somewhat struggling to get shots on net lately.

An incredible note provided by Rick Peckham. The Bolts PK this season is a very respectable 83.9%. However many of the goals allowed on the power play have been of the 5 on 3 variety. When its a mere one man advantage, the Bolts have killed off 41 of the past 42 penalties a staggering 97% success rate.

The Lightning improved to 6-1 this season against southeast division teams.

All is good in Hockey Bay right now as first place is ours again, hopefully for good this time. Pittsburgh tomorrow in a crucial back to back, lets sweep it.

Southeast Standings
1. Tampa Bay Lightning: 19 points
2. Carolina Hurricanes: 17 points
3.  Winnipeg Jets: 15 points
4. Florida Panthers: 14 points
5. Washington Capitals: 13 points

Game 17: Tampa Bay Lightning (8-7-1) At Carolina Hurricanes (8-6-1)

At exactly the one third mark of the season, the Lightning will face off in what is the biggest game of the season to date. The Bolts and Canes are knotted atop of the southeast division at seventeen points apiece. the winner of this game gets sole possession of that spot. It should be a bit easier for the Lightning as the Canes are completely injury riddled. Jeff Skinner, Joni Pitkanen, Jamie Mcbain, and Tim Gleason are all out for this game. Also not playing tonight is Cam Ward, who has struggled in his last two starts. Getting the start instead will be former Lightning goalie Dan Ellis. Ellis has been pretty good this year with a 1.75 GAA in four starts, three of them wins.

Matt Garon will get the start for the Bolts. He is 1-3 this season with a 3.19 GAA. His lone win was over a month ago against these same Hurricanes when the Bolts won 4-1.

It will be the second of five meetings between the Bolts and Canes this season, and second of three at RBC Center. the RBC Center is the only building the Bolts will visit three times this season.

Head to Head
Goals Per Game: Hurricanes: 2.93(7th) Lightning: 3.81 (1st)
Goals against per game: Hurricanes: 2.93 (19th) Lightning: 3.13 (25th)
Save Percentage: Hurricanes: .906 (18th) Lightning: .899 (21st)
Power Play: Hurricanes: 16.1% (20th) Lightning: 24.2% (5th)
Penalty Kill: Hurricanes: 74.6% (26th) Lightning: 83.1% (13th)

Around the southeast: The Caps already defeated the Devils today behind an Ovechkin hat trick. The Jets also already played, but they lost at Philly. The Panthers have off.