Florida (22-27-8) at Tampa Bay (32-22-4) Preview - Box Score - Recap Game Info: 7:30 pm EST Tue Feb 28, 2006

TV: FFLA, Sun

 

After rolling into the Olympic break with five wins in their last six games, the Tampa Bay Lightning look to continue their hot play and solidify their standing in the playoff race when they host the Florida Panthers.

 

With 68 points, the Lightning are unlikely to catch Carolina for the Southeast Division title, sitting 14 points back in second place. Tampa Bay, though, is holding down the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference, two points up on New Jersey and six ahead of eighth-place Montreal.

 

The defending Stanley Cup champions should be able to qualify for the postseason if they continue to play the way they did before the break, but the 16-day layoff -- along with the fact that eight Lightning players participated in the Olympic tournament -- could affect their momentum.

 

Tampa Bay forward Fredrik Modin helped Sweden win its second gold medal Sunday, as the Swedes defeated Finland 3-2 in the final game. Pavel Kubina and Vaclav Prospal played for the Czech Republic, while Brad Richards, Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis and Dan Boyle were on the Canadian team. Goaltender John Grahame played for the United States.

 

 

Those eight players make up a large part of the core of the Lightning roster, and it remains to be seen whether fatigue will affect them in the season's final 24 games.

 

Lecavalier is the Lightning's all-time leading scorer against the Panthers with 12 assists and 20 points, but he's been held pointless in his last five games against Florida, and has just one goal and one assist in the last nine meetings. His last goal against the Panthers came in a 3-2 win Feb. 14, 2004.

 

The Panthers alternated wins and losses in their final eight games before the break. Leading scorer Olli Jokinen, who faced Modin's Swedish team as a member of the Finn squad Sunday, has nine goals and 18 points in 28 games against the Lightning.

 

Other Panthers who participated in the Olympics are center Rostislav Olesz (Czech Republic), defenseman Jay Bouwmeester (Canada), center Jozef Stumpel (Slovakia) and goaltender Roberto Luongo (Canada).

 

Florida is in 13th place in the East, eight points behind the Canadiens for the final playoff berth. The Panthers have been shut out an NHL-high six times and will be facing a Lightning club that is tied for the league lead with six shutouts.

 

 

 

 

 

Time to start fresh after the Olympic Break. DO IT! :thumbup

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=roto...owire&type=lgns

 

no luongo tonight?

Roberto Luongo - Goalie

 

 

Roberto Luongo may or may not start for Florida when they return to the ice on Tuesday against Tampa Bay.

The Canadian Olympic goalie may be given a much-needed game off, and the team is leaning that way now. However, Luongo has been a workhorse his entire career in Florida, so do not be surprised if he plays. Feb. 27 - 7:54 am et

Source: Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

 

Could really use him tonight

glad I saw this thread, now I can actually watch a Panthers game up here.

Luongo needs to be there! Tampa Bay has a quick offense and great puck handlers and without Luongo... this might even be a blowout. But I believe in my team and hope we win. :pray

Oh which feed should I watch? Dave and Denis on FSN or Puss n' Boots on SUN....tough choice eh?

 

GO PANTHERS!

Jay Bouwmeester and Olli Jokinen are expected to play tonight against the Lightning despite the fact that they just flew in from Turin yesterday.

Keep both of these players active. Feb. 28 - 6:43 am et

Source: Miami Herald

 

Well thats some good news!

Luongo is playing.

Anyone else find it ironic that they just had a special on Olli when they will most likely be trading him this week?

 

sorta sad but ironic too

Anyone else find it ironic that they just had a special on Olli when they will most likely be trading him this week?

 

sorta sad but ironic too

I was thinking the same thing. I really enjoyed that feature. I find hockey players very odd. They always seem so quirky in front of a camera or on live tv.

 

Perhaps mostly b/c they are ugly SOB's.

 

Lets have a good game tonight fellas!

GOAL!

Who the hell scored that goal? I step out for one second and miss the goal.

Jokinen scored the goal I believe.

Money.

Money.

I cannot believe this. I've missed both goals already once to get dinner and second to take a piss.

 

oh well. 2-0 cats

Nice first period.

 

Pretty much have to run the table until the 9th to keep Jokinen in town, and it's good that the team realizes.

What the hell? Did this team change its personality overnight? FANTASTIC FIRST PERIOD!

Gelinas with Goal 3. Cats looking sharp after a long break. Def didnt expect this kind of performance on the road after 17 days off. Gotta keep playing like this on the road.

 

Joe N with another!!!! 4-0 cats

 

ROAR!

We're killing them!

Gratton with another goal on the Power Play.

 

5-0 cats

 

 

Panthers Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooal!

Good lord, 5-0

 

:o

 

6-0

We're killing them!

 

!!!!!

6-0!

 

Is it ok im laughing? Bring in the third string goalie!

What's gotten into the team? I go watch Deal or No Deal, and come back to the game to find out we're up 6?

 

:o

 

 

EDIT: 7!!!