Lightning is still Vinny's team

From Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune:

"This is Vinny's team; we know that. We are here to help him," Recchi said. "That will be something we'll talk to Vincent about, but we know he's the leader of this team. ... He's been a champion and he knows what it takes to win. I think it just strayed a little bit the past couple of years. But I think once you get that feeling back again, it's easy to grab again. When you are not winning it's easy to go the other way."

Read the entire article here.

Players like Gary Roberts and Mark Recchi were brought in as much for their ability to play on the team's 3rd/4th line as for their leadership. The truth is, the Bolts don't lack leadership with Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis having both led the team to a Stanley Cup championship.

A short interview with the new Lightning owners

From Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune:

Q: So does that mean you have a pretty aggressive game plan put together in terms of free agency when it opens on July 1?

LB: “We might be camping out at two different spots selling our team, selling our city and selling our passion.’’

OK: “We are probably going to be in certain player’s back yards with a tent, seriously, the day of. The day the clock strikes we will probably be at their home. And I don’t want that written because I don’t want anybody stealing our ideas. But we are serious, we are seriously talking about doing that.’’

Read the rest of the short interview here.

It sure looks like the Lightning isn't going to be overly worried about the salary cap this summer. With a core of Lecavalier, St. Louis, Boyle and Stamkos, a couple of good moves this off-season could vault the Bolts up the standings and back into the playoffs.

Saturday Night: Lightning Beast on The Thrashers

This is the abbreviated Saturday Night Recap

• Smart move by the Bruins organization to move the game to the afternoon to avoid conflict with the Red Sox. The game was 0-0 going into the shootout and Phil Kessel netted the only goal for Boston. Bruins 1 - Rangers 0.
• Chicago 2nd win in two nights comes against the rested Maple Leafs. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are reminiscent of the Thrashers' Heatley/Kovalchuk in their rookie years. They combined for 3 points tonight and Mats Sundin continues to rake for the Leafs (2 goals). Blackhawks 6 - Maple Leafs 4. Chicago's second third period comeback in a row. Chicago looks like they will be able to compete this year and may begin to fill the United Center, a playoff spot may be in sight
  
• Eric Staal and Justin Williams are able to beat red hot Marty Biron. The Canes are able to take the Flyers to overtime but bow out to Simon Gagne's winner. Philadelphia 3 - Carolina 2 (OT) Justin Williams only has 3 goals on the year now, but they have been snipes, in his age 26 season he is on his way to a career year
  
• Tampa Bay beats up on Atlanta for the second time of the year. The Lecavalier/St. Louis/Prospal line combines for 8 points. Lightning 6 - Thrashers 2.
  
• Edmonton continues to be the bitch of the Northwest Division going 0-4 against their rivals. Dion Phaneuf and Jarome Iginla were the first two stars with 3 points each and Kristian Huselius rounded up the back end with 2 points. The Flames show the Oilers who owns Alberta 4 - 1.
• In a rematch from last years playoffs San Jose shuts out Nashville 3-0. The Legend of Jeremy Roenick lives on, he scores his 3rd goal of the year and is two away from 500.

Tomorrow's Match Ups (All Times Eastern)
5:00pm VAN@CLB
7:00pm COL@MIN

Fantasy Watch: Last Night's Recap

F Chris Drury, New York Rangers
1 G, 2 A, 22:24 TOI, +3, 4 SOG

In his first game with the Rangers, Drury didn't disappoint, assisting on two goals, while netting the game winning goal himself. Look for an improvement on last year's 69 point output, as playing with Jaromir Jagr will yield a lot of opportunities.

F Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning
3 A, 24:38 TOI, +3

After posting two 90+ point seasons in the last four years, their are still some out there who are skeptical of St. Louis's talent. Scoring three assists in his first game should erase any doubt as the forward should be able to recreate last year's totals.

G Chris Mason, Nashville Predators
Stopped all 35 shots in Nashville's 3-0 victory over Colorado

Backing up Vokoun last year, Mason started in 48 games going 24-11-4 with five shutouts. Now that Vokoun is in Florida, Mason has become the Preds starting goaltender and could finish the year among the NHL's elite.

G Niklas Backstrom, Minnesota Wild
Stopped all 27 shots in Minnesota's 1-0 victory over Chicago

A reliable backup last year, Backstrom posted 23 wins in 36 games started. With the starting job all his, expect a steady output of wins.

F Daniel Briere, Philadelphia Flyers
2 G, 19:19 TOI, +2, 6 SOG

Scoring the game winning goal against a very talented Calgary team, Briere appears to have Philadelphia back on track. Owners should expect a similar point total for the former Buffalo Saber.


Honorable Mention:
F, Jason Arnott, Nashville Predators

Phoenix Coyotes (undefeated!)

F, Martin Havlat, Chicago Blackhawks (It was obvious the fragile forward would go down, but the first game? Really?)


For Illegal Curve, Im Jonny Remis