A Setback Can Be A Set Up For A Comeback

So the Lightning lost to Edmonton on Wednesday. Not only that, they also lost their top two goal scorers in Steven Stamkos and Ryan Malone. Time to panic? Probably not. Word from Lightning organization is that they are both listed as day-to-day, Malone with a “lower body injury” and Stamkos with an “upper body injury”.

Of course Mattias Ohlund was day-to-day as well and he missed about two weeks. Can this team afford to lose half of their offense for two weeks? The two forwards have scored 33 of the teams 75 goals, quite a healthy percentage for two players. It could be a rough stretch for the team. Of course, the team is already in a bit of a rough stretch as they have been defeated six times in their last seven outings.

Rather than cry out in anguish and gnash my teeth I’ve decided to find some positive in the situation. Perhaps the losing the heart of the offense will force those that have been playing below their talent will step up.

There was a sign of it in the game against Edmonton. Everyone’s favorite pass happy French Canadian winger Alex Tanguay fired two shots at the goaltender. That’s right two whole shots. It doesn’t seem like much until you realize that two shots were one more than he had in the previous three games.

Vincent was a force in the face off circle winning 20 of 29, including both of his face offs in the defensive circle. He assisted on Marty St Louis game opening goal, deking goalie Jeff Deslauriers with a shoulder fake before dishing a no-look pass to the diminutive winger.

Will Lecavalier step up his game now that he might be the go to goal scorer? After all his last season with 40 goals was the year before Stamkos arrived on the team. It’s a wild theory, but perhaps he needs to be the focus of the offense in order to succeed.

This is all speculation of course, the two offensive cogs could truly be day-to-day and only miss a game or two. The local fish rags are already saying that it looks like Malone will lace up the skates on Friday in Denver and Stamkos isn’t that far behind.

Until then I’m sure fans will declare the season over, oh wait they already have?

I guess it could be 0-6 on the upcoming trip, 8 losses in a row, and 9 losses out of 10 and for the season 25 losses out of 36 games if you include ot losses & SO losses. The season is over early . . . Again
----Vincevet’s comment posted on the St Pete Times Hockey site

Oh right I forgot what town I was. Why would I think that the news would be met with optimism?