Latest looks?

With more teams breaking out new looks this season, thanks in part to the NHL's adoption of the RBK Edge system, this thread shows quite a few. Some, like the Pittsburgh Penguins jersey shown above, are confirmed. Others should be taken, as the site suggests, with grains of salt.

Some teams, too, are using the RBK Edge to introduce updated logos. San Jose is expected to announce its new look on Tuesday, though someone apparently has spilled the beans. Provided you can afford one, you can already buy, or at least preorder, the new Boston, Columbus and Washington jerseys.

For hockey hounds, all these changes mean one thing. Last season's look should start appearing soon on clearance racks or discount department stores. Just today, we picked up a youth Vinny Lecavalier CCM replica home Lightning jersey for $60. Now if he'll just sign it.

Editor's note: This is the 500th posting since Aug. 15, 2006.

This sums it up nicely

In case you missed it in today's edition of the St. Petersburg Times, check out these lists of critical games during the Lightning's season, the tough roster decisions that await and the statistical symbiosis between Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis.

Well, well, well

Just like I said yesterday, any team scoring three goals against New Jersey's Martin Brodeur really ought to win the game. What's surprising, though, is the Lightning came back to beat the Devils, 3-2, with Vinny Lecavalier getting the game-winner.

Tampa Bay's Johan Holmqvist shook off his Game 1 jitters to stymie New Jersey, especially the diminutive Brian Gionta as time ran out. Maybe this team does have a little fight left in it.

Now that the series is tied 1-1, and with the teams heading to Tampa for Games 3 and 4, I'm looking forward to a hounding trip on Monday. I'm hoping, too, that the Devils opt to stay outside of Tampa. If they do, my commute will be considerably shorter.

Drawing a parallel

After watching Tampa Bay claw its way back into the opening playoff game last night against New Jersey, riding the backs of stars Vinny Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis, I really wasn't surprised that the Lightning, and goalie Johan Holmqvist, collapsed in the third period, giving the Devils a 1-0 led in the best-of-seven quarterfinals series.

One would think that three goals against a world-class Martin Brodeur would be enough to, at the least, force sudden-death overtime. Tampa Bay's collapse, however, proved otherwise.

To me, the game's third period mirrored the Lightning's fade down the stretch -- draw close but, ultimately, fail to deliver. And, in the process, it wasted solid performances by Lecavalier and St. Louis.

Maybe, the Lightning will put in a full 60-minute effort against the Devils on Saturday. If not, they'll head back to Tampa down 2-0.

Sunday morning homily XX

Now that the Easter Bunny has stopped by the house, I'm learning that we weren't his only intended destination. It seems to me, at least, that he left one big stinky egg in the Tampa Bay Lightning's season -- the Florida Panthers.

Had the Bolts been able to capture the season series from their South Florida cousins, Tampa Bay just might have a better view going into the playoffs. Unfortunately, the Lightning didn't do that. As it stands, they'll meet Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils in the first round.

Granted, the Lightning took the season series from the Devils, 3-1. Still, though, there's something about the playoffs that prompts New Jersey to play that much stronger. And given the recent coaching change, where Lou Lamoriello axed Claude Julien with three games remaining and contending for the Presidents' Trophy, I'm certain the Devils are focused on the tasks at hand.

It's been the Panthers (who finished the season at a respectable 35-31-16), though, who are mostly responsible for the Lightning's failure to capture the Southeast Division crown. Three times since March 3rd, and by an average 6-2 score, the Panthers spanked the Lightning. I guess when your season appears over in March, you adopt the role of a spoiler.

Unless the Lightning goes deep into the second season, it'll be a shame to see career seasons by Vinny Lecavalier (107 points, including the first Lightning ever to score 50 goals), Marty St. Louis (101 points) and Dan Boyle (20 goals and 63 points) be spoiled by an early round exit.

Assigning blame, Part II

To blame the Bolts' slippage entirely on the Panthers would be short-sighted, though. Losing your home finale (the sixth in as many seasons) and falling short in a season-ending game against a division rival is not the strongest way to enter the playoffs. Limping is more like it.

I hate to say it, but I'm sensing a one-and-done for the Lightning.

Given the Lightning's collapse in the season's final weeks (from leading the Southeast to stumbling to seventh), I wonder how long it'll take before a chorus to fire general manager Jay Feaster and coach John Tortorella becomes a crescendo. I doubt it'll happen in the offseason, though a poor start next season will certainly grease the skids.

Maybe that's why Scotty Bowman has been hanging around the team -- taking notes and evaluating talent should he be given the reins. Pure conjecture on my part, I know, but an interesting thought nonetheless.

To hail to the President

With the Buffalo Sabres winning the Presidents' Trophy, count me among the many hoping that the team remembers that it's just for its regular-season performance.

Though everyone begins the playoffs with a clean sheet of ice, so to speak, I see no reason why the Sabres can't continue their dominating offensive assault right through to June.

I still wish, though, that Buffalo had Martin Biron to back up Ryan Miller. Even though he's a UNH guy, Ty Conklin brings me little relief.

Anyone but BC, please

Going into the semifinals of the NCAA Frozen Four, I was rooting for Maine and North Dakota. Both lost. Going into the finals, I certainly couldn't bring myself to support Boston College. By default, I'm glad Michigan State won.

Must've been in a hurry

Count me among the surprised today that none of Tampa Bay’s Big Three stopped to sign for a sizable group of fans, hounds and dealers. Vinny Lecavalier, Brad Richards and Marty St. Louis drive right on by.
Really, it’s no surprise that Tim Taylor, the Lightning’s captain, almost never stops. Given the pressure he must be feeling, goalie Marc Denis offered only a wave. Even Doug Janik drove by.

It’s a rarity when not a single one of the trio will stop. Most often, it’s St. Louis. Vinny is hit-or-miss. Planets must be aligned whenever Richards stops. All three in one day? I haven’t been here that long, but that’s seldom happened.

All things considered, today’s outing, following the morning skate at the St. Pete Times Forum, was pretty fun. Colin scored 14 players, including Dan Boyle, Ryan Craig, Andre Roy and Bobby "The Chief" Taylor, on his team sheet.

Among the 13 autographs I added to the collection was the 1,250th puck.

Sunday morning homily XVIII

Looking back, the Lightning's training camp last September seems like years ago. It's been a long season. Players are grumpy. Hounds are grumpy. And, unfortunately, hotels are getting grumpy.

I wonder whether the NHL would consider taking a week off in early March to allow every team to rest, get healthy and just plain chill out.

Though NHL teams can't do that, I can. Colin's on his spring break from kindergarten, so we're looking forward to our first here in Florida.

We'll be hanging out, going fishing, hitting the beach and doing what tourists do when they're here. No Disney World, though. Nope, Colin wants to go to Dinosaur World. It's closer and much cheaper, too.

We'll get in a couple hounding sessions, too. Even the Lightning, so Colin can thank Marty St. Louis for this. Yeah, I know everyone is grumpy. Doesn't matter. The season wears on.

In sight

Some time this week, between the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Washington Capitals, I should score the 1,250th autographed puck of the collection. Who do you think it will be? With four pucks for Florida's Martin Gelinas, in Tampa on Tuesday, he'd be a good guess. If not him, it'll likely be a Lightning player.

Unbelievable?

Isn't it hard to believe that Tampa Bay's Vinny Lecavalier became the first Lightning player to ever reach 100 points in a season? He still needs one goal for 50. Maybe he'll get it Tuesday against the Panthers.

How do you spell collapse?

Down here in Tampa Bay, given the way the Bolts have been playing of late, it's spelled L-I-G-H-T-N-I-N-G.

Less than a month ago, the Lightning was leading the Southeast Division. Now, they're watching Atlanta pull away. They oughta start looking over their shoulders, too. At this point, there's no guarantee that Tampa Bay will make the playoffs.

Even being a casual Lightning fan, I'd hate to see career years by Vinny Lecavalier, Marty St. Louis and Dan Boyle wasted.

Now that John Grahame is with the Hurricanes, I wonder who Lightning coach John Tortorella will throw under the bus this year? Ruslan Fedotenko? Vinny Prospal? Filip Kuba? Marc Denis? Johan Holmqvist?

Hey, here's an idea. How about Brad "Dime-on-a-dollar" Richards?

Hockey Word Association 1.5

You should know the drill by now.

If you don't, track down you're fifth-grade English teacher -- the one with the blue hair and the aqua horned-rim glasses -- and ask her for help:

1.) Blocked shots =
2.) Vinny Lecavalier =
3.) Playoff beards =
4.) Roberto Luongo
5.) Golfing in April =

Filling the gaps

If you want to make a full day of hounding in Tampa, you really have to stop by the St. Pete Times Forum to snag a couple autographs from the Lightning. There's a window of opportunity between the visiting team's ride to the morning skate and its return to the hotel.

As you can see, I followed my own advice on Tuesday, getting Lightning defenseman Paul Ranger to sign this program. Vinny Prospal signed one, too. Cory Sarich signed a couple of cards and goalie Johan Holmqvist, who has wrestled away the starting gig from Marc Denis, signed a puck.

And, yes, Marty St. Louis signed a stick for Colin before I cut short the session to head back to the Kings' hotel.

Like I've said before, though, don't expect everyone to stop. Vinny Lecavalier and Brad "Dime on a Dollar" Richards are really hit-and-miss. Tim Taylor, nearing the end of his NHL run, and Nikita Alexeev seldom take time to sign. Most everyone else, though, shows their appreciation toward fans.

Addicted to Hockey? All Star Game edition

In honor of tonight's All Star Game at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, this round of questioning, to determine whether you're addicted to hockey, will take, maybe even predictably, an All Star Game slant and could even have a few rants.

Let's see, shall we?

Are you addicted to hockey? Should you answer "yes" to a majority of the following questions, I suggest you book a flight to Atlanta, Ga., on Jan. 14, 2008, book a room at a nice hotel near the Philips Arena through Jan. 17, 2008, and get yourself some tickets to the 2008 NHL All Star Game.

Make sure you buy one for me, too, because, after all, it was my idea.

Getting back on point, so to speak, here are some ways to tell whether you're addicted to hockey:

~ You'd gladly trade places with Martin Brodeur, Cristobaul Huet, Miikka Kiprusoff, Roberto Luongo, Ryan Miller and Marty Turco, even if it meant being the biggest duck in the shooting gallery. Granted, the players would be trying to shoot past you, but you could actually get hit by one of their shots. Trust me, if hockey balls at 20 mph hurt, just imagine frozen pucks in excess of 85 mph.

~ You're wondering why in God's name did the NHL hold the game on a Wednesday night. For poor saps like me, who had to work, I missed out on the game. Why not have it on the weekend before the NFL's Super Bowl? I'm certain, too, that with the 2008 event set for Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008, I'll raise this question again.

~ A smile broke across your face when the Eastern Conference line of Philadelphia's Simon Gagne and Tampa Bay's Marty St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier formed an updated version of the famed Buffalo Sabres' French Connection. The coach that put tonight's line together? None other than Buffalo's Lindy Ruff. I'm sure Richard Martin, Gilbert Perreault and Rene Robert wouldn't mind.

~ Speaking of Buffalo, you knew that MVP honors would go to a Sabres player. Daniel Briere, shown above, may be small, but he is the heart and soul of the Sabres, far more than Chris Drury. Also, Danny, if you're not sure what to do with that 2007 Dodge Nitro, feel free to call. I've got a spare spot in the driveway.

~ Believed Boston's Phil Kessel, considering what he's dealt with this year, was far more worthy of the YoungStars Game MVP award than New Jersey's Zach Parise.

~ Wondered why Toronto's Chad Kilger, who nailed a 106.6-mph slap shot during the Maple Leafs' team competition, wasn't involved in the hardest shot contest in the SuperSkills competition. For the record, Boston's Zdeno "The Prudential" Chara won individual honors with his 100.4 mph-laser.

~ Asked the American Airlines Center crew for the targets broken by Atlanta's Marian Hossa or Carolina's Eric Staal during the Shooting Accuracy contest. I also wonder how long it'll be before all four Staal brothers (Eric, Jordan, Marc and Jared) will play in an All Star game.

~ You spent $350 on one of those authentic RBK Edge jerseys so you would feel lighter and not worry about perspiration while standing in the beer line at your home rink. And then you plopped down another $75 to have your own name and "07" put on it.

~ Spent the past three days living out of your car because you couldn't find a hotel room with 100 miles of Dallas charging less than $300 a night, not including armadillos and cockroaches, and you bought one of those RBK Edge jerseys.

~ You considered this week, even if the All Star Game was the highlight, the longest of the year because you haven't seen a real game since this past Saturday.

Sunday morning homily X

After 22-plus years of daily journalism, it's no wonder than the cynic in me views most every sports business-related move with a healthy dose of skepticism. For instance, take the combined efforts of RBK Hockey and the NHL with the new RBK Edge jersey. While those corporate entities extol the new product's benefits to players and insist that any retail gains are secondary, I have my doubts.

Granted, I think the jerseys, which will make their debut in Dallas later this week, look pretty cool. And I do believe Tampa Bay's Vinny Lecavalier when he praises the performance-enhancing virtues (lighter in weight with greater moisture-wicking technology) of the new jerseys.

"They're the real deal," he told USA Today. "The water doesn't soak into your jersey. So you don't feel like you have 10 pounds on your back by the end of the third period."

Though anything that adds speed to the game is worthy of applause, I'm convinced that corporate greed is a major role. With news that all 30 NHL teams will be wearing the new jerseys, there's also an indication that some teams will be changing their looks. And, of course, a new look, especially on a jersey, will prompt many fans to keep up with the times.

With RBK Edge versions of the All Star Game jerseys commanding anywhere between $110 (replica) to $350 (authentic) each, it's an easy leap to believe this pricing structure will continue with a team's new release.

Bottom line, kids, is that the jerseys are just another thinly veiled attempt to pry money from fans. In the meantime, I'll keep my eyes open for a Vintage Buffalo Sabres Mitchell & Ness jersey.

Kings needed Luc's luck

It's a shame that the Los Angeles Kings players couldn't contribute on a night when Luc Robitaille's No. 20 was raised to the rafters. After quickly jumping out to a 2-0 lead, thanks to Anze Kopitar's nifty shorthanded goal, the Kings let the Phoenix Coyotes leave the Staples Center with a 3-2 victory.

It's my guess that Robitaille, as well as the many former teammates (including Butch Goring, Jari Kurri, Larry Robinson and Rogie Vachon) who honored the three-time NHL All Star in the hourlong ceremony, would have done a better job of protecting and, most likely building upon, the lead. In fact, I would've loved to see those guys get one last spin around the rink.

The game also featured the L.A. debut of goalie Sean Burke, claimed last week off waivers from Tampa Bay. Too bad, though, that dehydration forced Burke, seeing his first action in nearly two months, to leave the game early in the third period. Yutaka Fukufuji, who made NHL history recently as being the first Japanese-born player to play and then start in an NHL contest, gave up the game-winning goal.

2 + 0 = 3?

I'll bet there will be a bunch of Carolina Hurricanes fans walking into Raleigh-area malls and sporting goods stores today with sheepish looks upon their faces. And, no, those looks didn't come from the Tampa Bay Lightning's 6-5 come-from-behind shootout victory.

After Scott Walker gave the Canes a 5-4 lead against the Lightning in the third period of last night's game, more than a few Carolina fans, thinking that Eric Staal had scored a hat trick instead, littered the ice with their ballcaps, a time-honored show of appreciation for such a feat.

Replay upon replay, however, showed that although Staal was on the ice, he wasn't even close to the puck nor was he involved in the play.

Now, I'm not saying this case of premature e-cap-ulation means Hurricanes fans aren't knowledgeable about hockey, but they might want to brush up a little on their math. Until then, they need to remember that 2 + 1 is what equals 3.

Running on empty

The three easiest ways to know that you need to take an extended break from hounding a team are easily recognizable.

First, you're down to your last three or four pucks for that team. That's why you see the Houston Aeros (Johan Holmqvist), Tampa Bay Lightning (Filip Kuba) and the 2004 World Cup of Hockey-Canada (Brad Richards, personalized to Colin) pucks shown above. Other than a Montreal Canadiens puck for the ever-elusive and somewhat reclusive Scotty Bowman, I'm saving my last three Lightning pucks for any mid-season acquisitions.

Secondly, you begin to question just how many more autographed cards you need from such players as Vinny Prospal, Paul Ranger and Tim Taylor. Good players? Sure. But does a collection need more than five to six from most players? I don't think so.

I can understand wanting to score as many autographs from Vinny Lecavalier, Marty St. Louis, Dan Boyle and Richards as they'll sign, but other than a few odd items (mainly game programs, the aforementioned pucks and a St. Louis stick for Colin), there are very few cards awaiting a blue Sharpie -- a couple each for Cory Sarich and Kuba.

Finally, one the Lightning's Big Three (in this case, it was Lecavalier) won't sign a card because "I signed for you last month." Good memory, eh?

Nope, I didn't forget

What? Did you really believe I'd let the first day of a new year pass without a posting? Wasn't gonna happen, I tell ya. No way, not on my watch. Hell, I'm just getting warmed up.

Wanna know the reason why? Even if you don't, I'm gonna tell ya. No, I haven't been drinking all day. Nor have I been sleeping all day, even after watching that ball drop on TV last night.

Nope, I've been working. I've put together my final puck orders for the season, barring the Tampa Bay Lightning making a deep run into the Stanley Cup playoffs. I even have to order a puck, if it's possible, from the Oklahoma City Blazers.

And, in putting that list together, I'm better prepared to make a prediction. It's my guess that I'll add another 125 pucks to our collection, ending the regular season with a total of 1,268.

Who's on the list? You should recognize the names. If you don't, you've come to the wrong place, brother.

Here's a random sampling, just to name a few, in order of appearance, more or less, in Tampa in 2007: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, Marty St. Louis, Olaf Kolzig, Bryan McCabe, Mats Sundin, Patrik Elias, Brian Gionta, Scott Gomez, John Madden, Brendan Shanahan, Petr Prucha, Fedor Tyutin, Alexander Frolov, Anze Kopitar, Lubomir Visnovsky, Vincent Lecavalier, Wayne Gretzky, Georges Laraque, Yanic Perreault, Alex Auld, Zdeno Chara, Stanislav Chistov, Tim Thomas, Brad Richards, Jeff Halpern, Eric Lindros, Marty Turco, Shawn Bates, Mike Sillinger, Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley, Rod Brind-Amour and Tim Gleason.

Those will work, don't ya think? Wanna know something else? Every single one, from the biggest star on down, will only add to the collection. Some day, that Guinness book is gonna come calling.

Christmas came early . . .

At 5:02 a.m., to be exact. Ninety minutes later, after all the presents had been opened, there had been a few hockey-related presents under the tree:

~ five club-level tickets for the Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning game on Jan. 9, 2007, for Colin, Nana, Babop, Mama and Daddy;

~ a Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins jersey for Colin;

~ a Marty St. Louis photo plaque for Colin, too;

~ a Hockey Bay hoodie for Mama;

~ a Tampa Bay Lightning T-shirt for Mama, too;

~ an ESPN SportsCentury video of Wayne Gretzky for Daddy; and

~ a framed Vinny Lecavalier photo plaque.

It was a very Merry Christmas indeed.

From our house to yours, we wish you happy holidays.

Don't believe all you hear

For all the horror stories I’ve heard about Vinny Lecavalier, I’m surprised at the success I’ve had having him sign pucks. Yesterday, he signed the World Cup of Hockey and 2003 NHL All Star Game pucks shown above.

Granted, he may not stop all the time (The size of the crowd, I believe, is a big factor), but all it took was showing him the pucks and waving my paint pen for him to bring his jet-black Hummer to a halt. And, with only four others collecting autographs, gave most of us pretty nice signatures.

One hound, though, got shot down, point-blank, by Lecavalier. "No, I've signed enough for you in the past," he said before raising his driver's side window and driving away.

As a team, the Lightning are pretty decent signers. It’s rare for all of the Big Three (Lecavalier, Brad Richards and Marty St. Louis) to stop, but most every other player, save for Dmitry Afanasenkov, has stopped on the handful of hounding trips I’ve made to the St. Pete Times Forum. (For the record, Richards didn’t stop yesterday).

I can’t complain, too, when I add another 18 autographs, including eight pucks, to the collection in less than an hour. I could have added more, but I simply didn’t have items for them.