Tampa Bay Lightning Blog Posts

Lightning Sign Mattias Ohlund to 7-Year 245 Million Contract

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:50:05 EDT

The Lightning have empowered their blue line even more this off-season.

After drafting young defenseman Victor Hedman last Friday in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the Lightning have brought in a veteran to further along his progress. Mattias Ohlund, who has spent his entire 12-year career with the Vancouver Canucks, has moved to the Eastern Conference to play with the young Tampa Bay defense.

Ohlund was expected to receive a lot of offers today, but signed early with a contract he liked. Being known as the top-guy in Vancouver, Ohlund possesses great foot speed and the ability to move the puck out of his zone. He has reached the 30-point plateau six times in his career, and has scored 36 career power-play goals. Adding Ohlund to a power-play that ranked 19th in the league last season will surely improve their chances.

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Tribute to a giant of a horse

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:40:18 EDT

Most people, even avid racing fans, have forgotten him. He's the horse Laffit Pincay called "the fastest horse I ever rode, the fastest horse I ever saw." From a man who won the Eclipe award for outstanding jockey four times and was seven times the US leading jockey this is high praise.

The horse? A bay lightning bolt named Chinook Pass. Named after a mountain pass of 5430 feet he made a highway through the sprinter division on the track.

Chinook is 30 years old this month and the bay gelding set speed records at several places, winning an Eclipse for sprinter in the early 1980s (not a misprint there!) before retiring after an injury incurred when he won the Longacres Mile. After some healing time Chinook took on a second career - that of a dressage horse and Thoroughbred ambassador.

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New Look Rangers in better position for Cup and Future

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:28:51 EDT

The UFA season has largely been completed--aside from a few big names hanging around--and the NHL standings may look very different next season.

This year's make over awards go to the New York Rangers and the Tampa Bay Lightning. First, the 'ning--as runners up. For Florida's only relevant franchise, the makeover began weeks ago with the firing of John Tortorella and the hiring of Barry Melrose (aside: here's hoping Pat Burns makes it back to the NHL and squares off against Melrose. Was there anything better than the barbs the two exchanged in the 93 playoffs?). They then selected highly touted Steven Stamkos--a likely second line center behind Vinny the Becoming Great. Those changes alone would make headlines. But Tampa didn't stop. They have since added Vaclav Prospal, Gary Roberts, Ryan Malone, Radim Vrbata, Olaf Kolzig, Ryan Hall and Wyatt Smith. New look, yes. The result, however, will be determined. They've certainly added some size up front, but just how well that translates into success is anybody's guess. If Kolzig has another super year in him, they have solved their constant goaltending woes and may be ready to take another run at a playoff birth and beyond.

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Euro 2008 Wrap-up

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:51:24 EDT

Germany are favorites...or favourites.

Podolski shines. Dutch are delightful! Hat trick for Villa. Turkey win late. Croatia win group. Romanians love Mutu! So do Italians. Early exit for Greece. Turkey win late. Ballack blast. French miss Zidane. Russia are through!

Germany bests Portugal. ~~Croatia~~ ~~win late~~. Turkey win late. Dutch are done. Spanish curse gone.

Lightning in Basel. Spain are convincing.

44 years!

Xavi best player.

South Africa.

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Its Time for Better Know An Even More Obscure Sports Team

Sun, 17 Feb 2008 20:00:31 EST

Today we'll be covering...

The Florida Panthers!

Yeah, in case you didn't know- there's a hockey team in Florida called the Panthers. I dont' know why they exist. I'm gonna try to do this with no research- let's see how it goes.

I can't name a playe on this team. Ever. Then again, they could've been an expansion team this year and I'd have believed it. I just saw the Boston Bruins play them why I was eating my buffalo chicken chowder bread bowl at the Souper Bowl the otehr night. I've heard of the Tampa Bay Lightning, they won it all a few years back with St. Louis, LeCavalier, and that goalie, Nikolai Havi... Habby, Habi... Holly.. Halibubu? Habubooblin? Habibubu... What? It starts with a K? Screw it I'm looking it up. (Khabibulin).

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Somethings wrong with Tropicana Field

Sun, 30 Dec 2007 17:58:49 EST

While attending college at the University of Tampa, I noticed the awesome fact that the area is rich in professional sports! The Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are relatively close to each other and easily accessible. The closest NBA was the Orlando Magic, but I got to catch a pre-season game at the Ice Palace one year. I felt really spoiled since I grew up in a place where everything was much more spread out and harder to get tickets for. To make things even better – there was plenty of golf and tennis around. I only wish the USF Bulls were as good as they are now when I was there. I didn’t complain though, I was able to go to the games free since my school didn’t have football. (They did at one time; John Matuszak is a U Tampa alum!)

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