Author Archive for WB Philp
WB Philp is a published hockey writer who has a built in disdain for Barry Melrose. He covered the Detroit sports teams for many years until he came to his senses and moved to the Sunshine State. He is a true puckhead on a mission from God (Gordie Howe) to make hockey relevant in the south. He lives in Hockey Bay USA and covers the Lightning full time. Did I mention he hates Barry Melrose?
The Malone Mess
After two consecutive seasons of missing the playoffs, Tampa Bay Lightning General Manager Steve Yzerman has some tough decisions to make in the upcoming off-season. Not the least of which is what to do with fan favorite Ryan Malone. “Bugsy” as he is affectionately referred to, has two more years left on a contract with [...]
Hall Of Famer On A Hot Seat
Steve Yzerman knew it, the players new it, the fans new it…everybody new it. After giving up four first period goals against Ottawa in a must win game on Saturday night, Guy Boucher’s tenure as Lightning coach was over. The loss to the Senators was the second straight lethargic game, mailed in by the players. Perhaps [...]
Lightning Fire Boucher
The Tampa Bay Lightning have fired coach Guy Boucher. GM Steve Yzerman announced the firing earlier this morning. Tampa Bay assistant coaches Dan LaCroix and Martin Raymond will coach the team tonight against Winnipeg. The Bolts are in 14th place in the Eastern Conference and are all but mathematically eliminated from the playoffs with just 17 games remaining. The [...]
Jekyll and Hyde Lightning Team at a Crossroads
In the first seven games, the Tampa Bay Lightning scored 37 goals and went 6-1. Over the last four games, three on the road, the Bolts have scored six goals and lost all four contests. Tampa Bay is now 6-5 and leads the Carolina Hurricanes and Winnipeg Jets by one point in the Southeastern Division. [...]
High Flying Bolts Getting Contributions From Everyone
After six games the Tampa Bay Lightning is 5-1 with ten points and are riding a four game winning streak The Bolts are first in the Southeast division, three points ahead of the Winnipeg Jets. Tampa Bay is second in the Eastern Conference, one point behind the Boston Bruins. The Bolts are the third best [...]
Vincent Lecavalier 1,000 Game Infographic
The Tampa Bay Lightning drafted Vincent Lecavalier with the first pick in the 1998 NHL Draft. He made his debut a few months later that season as an 18-year-old and has scored 374 goals and registered 846 points in 1,001 career games, all with the Lightning, since then. “Vinny” was an integral part of the Bolts’ [...]
Lightning Showing Improvement In Key Areas
After three games the Tampa Bay Lightning are 2-1, with four points and are first in the Southeast division. While it is all but impossible to glean much information from such a small sample of play, the Bolts are showing signs of improvement on defense and in the net. Tampa Bay opened the season at [...]
Tampa Bay Lightning 2013 Training Camp Photo Essay
If you didn’t make it out to the Lightning‘s training camp in Estero, Florida, here is what it looked like through the trained eye of photographer Susan Ferlita. Enjoy! Follow me on Twitter @LightningShout and “Like” Hockey Independent Lightning on [...]
Game On! Tampa Bay Lightning 2013 Opening Night Roster
Official NHL rosters aren’t due until tomorrow at 5:00 pm, but after stating the team that practices on Friday will be the opening night squad, Tampa Bay Lightning coach Guy Boucher has decided on his 2013 team. At noon today, Mike Angelidis, JT Wyman, Matt Taormina and Kyle Wilson were placed on waivers with the intent of [...]
2013 Tampa Bay Lightning Schedule Announced
The NHL lockout is officially over as both sides have ratified the new CBA and signed the Memorandum of Understanding. With that, the Bolts announced their 2013 abbreviated schedule. The Lightning’s 20th season will be a mad dash to the finish line. They will play 48 games in 99 days. Five of the initial [...]
2013 Eastern Conference Power Rankings
The 2013 NHL season is no longer an 82 game marathon, but instead is a 48 game dash to the finish line. Will teams that had multiple players skating in Europe fair better? Will veteran squads win because they will have fresh legs all season long? Only the next few months will tell. Here are [...]
New CBA In Place. Abbreviated Season: What It Means For The Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning hockey is back! After a long 16 hour negotiating session in New York yesterday, the NHL and NHLPA announced an agreement in principle around 6 a.m. today. The NHL did not announce the start date of the season or the number of games each team will play, but it is expected to [...]
Crombeen Is A Solar Bear
Another Tampa Bay Lightning player has signed a lockout contract with an ECHL team. Forward BJ Crombeen will play for the Orlando Solar Bears, presumably making his debut on Saturday night at the Amway Center in Orlando. Crombeen has practiced with the Minnesota Wild affiliate. Crombeen is on the NHLPA negotiating committee. The five year [...]
Who’s Your Bolts Rushmore?
While the frustrating NHL lockout has taken away our game, it gives us time to ponder other fun, hockey related questions. In an attempt to bring together Tampa Bay fans and writers, I asked Lightning Nation, “Who is your Bolts Rushmore?” Two hundred combined emails, Facebook messages and Twitter direct messages were sent out [...]
BREAKING: HBO To Air Alternative 24/7 Hockey Series In December
It looked like the NHL lockout would not only deprive hockey fans of their sport, but also of the best sports related reality series, HBO’s 24/7 – Road to the Winter Classic. But, Hockey Independent has learned that HBO has put together an alternative series of shows with the same 24/7 format. “24/7 Fehr –Bettman [...]
Mikkelson To Sweden
Lightning defenseman Brendan Mikkelson will spend the remainder of the lockout playing in Sweden’s Allsvenskan league for Vasteras. The 25 year old played in 41 games for the Bolts last season, accumulating three points and 13 penalty minutes. He becomes the fourth member of the Lightning to play overseas, joining forward Adam Hall (Ravensburg/Germany), defenseman [...]
Lightning’s Lindback To Play In Finland
A third Tampa Bay Lightning player will play in Europe during the NHL lockout. Goalie Anders Lindback has inked a two month contract to play in Finland with Ilves. Lindback joins defenseman Victor Hedman and forward Adam Hall overseas. The new Tampa Bay goaltender will return to the Bolts if the lockout is resolved before [...]
Lightning’s Hall Is Germany Bound
Tampa Bay Lightning forward and player representative Adam Hall has signed a lockout contract with Ravensburg in the German second division. According to Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune, Hall will make his debut on Friday versus Rosenheim. Hall spoke about his decision to play overseas, ”I’m looking forward to the opportunity. It’ll be great to [...]
Lightning’s Thompson Signs With Alaska Aces
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nate Thompson has signed a tryout contract with the ECHL’s Alaska Aces. He joins NHL players Scott Gomez (Montreal) and Joey Crabb (Washington) on the Aces roster. Gomez, like Thompson, signed a tryout contract, while Crabb signed a standard deal. Thompson, an Alaska native has 29 goals and 35 points in [...]
Hedman Headed to KHL
Various sources are reporting that Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman has signed with HC Barys of the KHL. Hedman is the first Bolts player to commit to a European team during the current lockout. The 6’6″ defenseman had five goals and 18 assists with the Lightning last season. *Victor Hedman photograph courtesy of Linda Hamilton. Follow [...]
