Taking Advantage of Speed, Lightning Race Out to Hot Start

by Susan Slusser

Filed under: Lightning

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- As the Lightning prepared for yet another playoff-style game on the West Coast, this time against the Sharks, Tampa Bay coach Guy Boucher tried to look at his packed training room and sick bay and find the positives.

"You can see how many guys we have banged up," Boucher said after his team's morning skate at HP Pavilion. "But that's exactly how it would be in the playoffs. This is a great opportunity for these guys to manage that."

This is the new-look Lightning: Optimism. Confidence. No excuses.

After three straight years without a playoff appearance, the Lightning suddenly appear to be legitimate contenders. They have a glint in their eyes and a spring in their skates under new coach Boucher, new GM Steve Yzerman and new owner Jeffrey Vinik.

There is no doubt that the players feel that things have changed for the better.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Marcel Goc Scott Gomez Boyd Gordon Mikhail Grabovski