Buffalo. The Sabres score 3 goals in the 3rd, 2 of which come in the final minutes. You could just feel it coming. Visions of that odd-man rush coming and beating Holmer (who cannot be faulted with the Lightning’s sad, sad defense).

Then overtime and the quick and merciful goring.

When will it become apparent that the system Torts puts together simply does not work in today’s NHL? How long will Lightning fans have to endure having Torts rip apart the MVP line simply to try to cover the mistake of a lack-luster player in Brad Richards? Watch as Torts replaces Holmqvist in the next games to ‘punish’ him for tonight’s debacle, even after a career high 42 saves. It’s not a goalie problem, it’s a coaching problem that allows too much offensive play in the Lightning end of the rink, that allows far too many odd-man rushes to cross the blue line and score against us. It’s painful.

I’ve been a hockey fan since my first game, in the wee-small hours of the early 1960’s in Chicago, so I know from nearly 5 full decades what real hockey is, what real coaching is, and unfortunately what Torts brings isn’t real hockey, and isn’t real coaching. Add to that the Feaster Fiasco’s we’ve seen...and it’s evident that until real changes in the management and coaching of the Lightning are made, and the mistakes traded away, the situation won’t get better. I saw it done several weeks ago against Vancouver, but until the Lightning are allowed to play that way every game, the situation won’t get better.

Matts24..I went back and looked at many of your posts. I’ve got to commend you for having a genuine sense of it all, I can’t disagree with your comments. What you wrote back in Nov 07 is prophetic....it is as true then as it is now. You’re obviously a tuned in fan with some real hockey knowledge. Too bad the general hockey fan-base here in Tampa isn’t on the same level.

Thanks on the complement. I know some of my views might be construed as not being a good fan but I am truly thinking of the future as much as the present when I posted most of those posts. I only wish more people would hit up this forum. If you know a better one that gets more people to actually respond instead of viewing them and not voicing their opinion let me know.

I totally agree with what you are saying. I think its time to look to the future however that might have to be addressed. My greatest fear is Feaster making the decisions. He really hasn’t shown very much to me. It seemed 80% of the Stanley Cup roster was constructed by Dudley with a few pieces Feaster added. I don’t know if it’s a scouting problem, a GM problem or just really horrible luck, but something has to change.

I mean looking back on the Richards contract, I think a few things have been mis-construed in the media by some talk show hosts. At the time, yes Richards was coming off the Stanley Cup and his most productive season, but he wasn’t an un-restricted free agent, he was a restricted free agent. Meaning the Lightning would have had the first right of refusal if another team had offered a contract or would have received compensation had he left. Feaster, in his wisdom went ahead and gave him the max contract he could have under the salary cap. Now, why not at least see if another team offered him maybe less than the max a year and just match it. At the worst, another team offers him the max and the Lightning give him what Feaster gave him anyway. I remember when Gratton had the same situation the first time he was a Bolt, the Bolts didn’t match the contract the Flyers gave Gratts, and the Bolts received 2 players in return who helped the team.(Karl Dykhouse and Michael Reneberg)… those names are totally spelled wrong bc I didn’t feel like looking them up.

Sorry I went on a bit too long, but I think the point of Feaster not being a very good Gm was made.