Quantcast
Channel: Tampabay.com: Sports
Viewing all 18574 articles
Browse latest View live

Yankees 13, Orioles 2

0
0

Times wires
Thursday, May 19, 2011

Yankees 13, Orioles 2

BALTIMORE — CC Sabathia scattered seven hits over eight shutout innings, Nick Swisher drove in four and the Yankees finished a two-game sweep. Mark Teixeira and Eduardo Nunez homered for the Yankees, who matched a season high with three straight wins after a six-game skid. Sabathia struck out nine to improve to 2-0 this year against the Orioles, 16-2 lifetime and 10-1 at Camden Yards.


Wade Davis relocates aggressiveness though Tampa Bay Rays fall to Toronto Blue Jays 3-2

0
0

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, May 19, 2011

TORONTO — The Rays were obviously disappointed with the final result on the Rogers Centre scoreboard after Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Jays, as well as the AL East standings as their lead was cut to one game.

But they were relatively pleased with the work of starter Wade Davis, as the 25-year-old showed signs of rediscovering the aggressive approach and blazing fastball that made him a success.

"It was better," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "Much better."

The problem for the Rays (25-19) was Toronto's Ricky Romero was even sharper. And as a result, the margin between victory and defeat was slim. And somewhat swift, with the game lasting just 2 hours, 16 minutes.

Juan Rivera hit a solo homer in the second and J.P. Arencibia a two-run shot in the seventh to provide the Jays' three runs.

B.J. Upton homered, his seventh of the season, in the fifth, and Kelly Shoppach, using Evan Longoria's bat, went deep in the eighth to deliver the Rays' two.

"Just a really well-played, quick, snappy, 1950s-60s circa baseball game that they won by a point," Maddon said.

Davis' ineffectiveness has been something of a mystery and of tempered concern since he had still posted a 4-3 record and 3.37 ERA through his first eight starts.

He said a series of slight adjustments he worked on with pitching coach Jim Hickey between starts had him confident he would have better command of and increased velocity on his fastball Thursday. And for most of his season-high 7⅔ innings, he did, along with a sharper slider and curve. An overly aggressive approach by the Toronto hitters worked to his advantage as well.

"Everything felt a lot better today," Davis said. "I was much more aggressive, especially early on; I was throwing more strikes, throwing the ball over the plate, attacking guys."

Shoppach said, in essence, it was about time.

Davis' strikeouts had been down and his walks up, his best fastball missing at times and his priority seemingly more on pitching than throwing. It wasn't an effective combination, and since health was not an issue, it was something Davis needed to change.

"He had to; you can't keep walking the tight wire with all the walks he's had and being behind hitters," Shoppach said. "I'm not real clear with what was going on with him, but the way threw the ball tonight is where he should be every night. I know we talked before the game and he talked about how he just physically felt better.

"I'm not sure why it took him nine starts to get there. You just can't pitch at this level behind hitters, and you have to pitch with your fastball. If you don't pitch with that pitch, it just doesn't work. … I hope's he turned the corner and realized this is the way he should be and the way we expect him to be."

There were still rough spots, including the fairly well-located 3-and-1 fastball that Rivera, who had been 0-for-his-last-12, knocked over the leftfield fence, and the first-pitch slider to Arencibia, after a one-out walk to Rivera in the seventh, that didn't slide.

But overall, better.

"Hopefully," Davis said, "it's just an up hill from here."

Tampa Bay Lightning loses to Boston Bruins 2-0 in Game 3 of East final, Bruins lead series 2-1

0
0

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, May 19, 2011

TAMPA — After the first two games of the Eastern Conference final produced a total 18 goals, Game 3 Thursday night at the St. Pete Times Forum went in the opposite direction.

The Bruins beat the Lightning 2-0 in a close-checking contest that featured fine goaltending by Boston's Tim Thomas and Tampa Bay's Dwayne Roloson, and the Bruins took a two-games-to-one lead in the best-of-seven series in front of a sellout crowd of 21,027.

David Krejci scored 1:09 into the game after a bad defensive gaff by Tampa Bay. Tyler Seguin scored his fourth goal of the series 8:12 into the third period.

Boston also got a boost from the return of center Patrice Bergeron, who missed the first two games with concussion symptoms.

The Lightning's penalty kill, which allowed two goals in a 6-5 Game 2 loss, returned to form, killing all three Boston power plays. But Tampa Bay's power play was 0-for-3.

Tampa Bay did not storm Thomas, but the goalie made 31 saves for his second career playoff shutout and came up big when he had to. He also got a bit of luck in the second period when Steven Stamkos whizzed a wrist shot off the crossbar.

The Lightning had the better of play in the first period and outshot the Bruins 10-8. But one Tampa Bay mistake led to Krejci's goal, and the Bruins also won 14 of 18 faceoffs.

Boston took the lead 1:09 into the period when a giveaway by Lightning defenseman Brett Clark and bad positioning by defenseman Victor Hedman left Krejci alone in front of the net. Roloson did not have a chance as Krejci, unchecked, deked him out of position.

From there, the Lightning took off and at one point had a 7-3 lead in shots. And Thomas had to be sharp during a serious Tampa Bay flurry that featured leg saves on wrist shots by Teddy Purcell and Vinny Lecavalier within five seconds and a block of Marty St. Louis' shot by Dennis Seidenberg six seconds after that.

Roloson had to be sharp with 9:39 left as Gregory Campbell launched a spin-o-rama shot. Roloson made the save but did not know where the puck was under him, prompting a scramble in the crease in which Campbell took an extra swipe at Roloson.

Simon Gagne came to Roloson's defense, and both players received two minutes for roughing.

Tampa Bay had a great chance with St. Louis and Lecavalier on a two-on-one with 8:09 remaining. But St. Louis' cross-ice pass was knocked away by the long stick of 6-foot-9 Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara.

Lightning coach Guy Boucher was as animated as he has been all season after Marc-Andre Bergeron was called for elbowing Krejci with 2:31 remaining. Replays showed Bergeron hit Krejci legally with his shoulder, and Boucher gave referee Steve Kozari an earful.

The Bruins had a 12-6 advantage in shots, but both goalies had moments when they had to shine, and the period ended 1-0 for Boston.

Roloson had the first big save 21 seconds into the second period. After a takeaway by Brad Marchand, Bergeron had an open shot on left wing, but Roloson got to his right quickly and made the save.

Thomas showed skill with 6:51 left with a right-foot save on Lecavalier's blast from the slot.

Roloson answered with a left-leg save on Rich Peverly from in close at the end of a two-on-one, and another save on Peverley's rebound try.

Seguin made it 2-0 in the third when he deflected in Andrew Ference's shot from the point and the puck trickled through Roloson's legs.

Inside

Lightning no surprise to Bettman

Commissioner Gary Bettman credits a good owner and GM for Tampa Bay's quick turnaround. 3C

Playoffs are playoffs to Boucher

Lightning coach Guy Boucher, in his first NHL postseason, has junior and AHL playoff experience. 4C

Tickets

Saturday's Game 4 and a potential Game 6 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa are sold out. Unused team tickets might be released on game days. Check with the box office at (813) 301-6600 and Ticketmaster (outlets, ticketmaster.com, toll-free 1-800-745-3000).

On the Web

For more photos of the Lightning's x-x loss to the Bruins, check out sports.tampabay.com.

* Games 6, 7 if necessary

Maybe Boston Bruins are simply better than Tampa Bay Lightning

0
0

By John Romano, Times Sports Columnist
Thursday, May 19, 2011

TAMPA — The scoreboard was bad. The implications were worse.

This was not a loss due to lack of structure. It was not because of penalties, momentum, tempo or inexperience. In other words, none of the usual explanations were apparent in Tampa Bay's 2-0 loss to Boston in Game 3 on Thursday night.

Which means the Bruins were simply the better team.

Somehow, that seems worse than the Game 2 loss on Tuesday night, when the Lightning felt it got away from its game plan. And it seems worse than the early losses against Pittsburgh, when the Lightning was still a team learning how to survive in the playoffs.

It seems worse because it makes you wonder whether Boston is actually the better candidate to make it out of the Eastern Conference final.

"These are the games that we usually play well in," Lightning forward Steven Stamkos said.

"One-goal games, we usually win."

We have already seen the Lightning come back from a bigger deficit this postseason, so we know it can be done.

The difference is Tampa Bay is facing a more complete opponent than a couple of weeks ago when it fell behind Pittsburgh.

"We have to stick to our game plan. We know it works," said forward Dominic Moore. "Some nights, you're not going to get the results."

This was Boston playing the way the Lightning must have feared. It was a team with a smothering defense and a world-class goaltender making a 1-0 score feel like it was 10-0 for the first 50 minutes or so.

If Game 2 had the feel of a bunch of kids playing on a pond, this was those same kids playing on Prozac. It was stops and starts, it was fumbles and flops. It was butt ugly.

By the second period, Lightning players looked frustrated. They made poor passes and silly decisions. They had scoring opportunities that fizzled before the shot.

If not for 20 strong minutes from Lightning goaltender Dwayne Roloson, the game would have been over by the time the puck was picked up at the end of the second period.

As it was, Tampa Bay barely mounted a challenge in the final minutes. There was never the feeling that a comeback was near, there was never the sense that confidence was high.

And now the Lightning is faced with a quandary. It lost Game 2 when the tempo was high and the scoring chances were plenty. Now it has lost Game 3 when the pace was slowed and the defenses were in control.

"Today was more of a playoff game between two teams that pride themselves on playing tight, and that's why we're here. If we weren't like that, we wouldn't be here," Lightning coach Guy Boucher said. "They played well, and we played just as well.

"It came down to one mistake here and there."

In this case, the mistake came 69 seconds into the game when Lightning defensemen Brett Clark and Victor Hedman both converged on the same player and David Krejci was left standing alone in front of the net.

Boucher would not say whether the mistake was made by one of the defensemen or a forward who was slow to get back in position.

Either way, doesn't it seem a bit concerning that a mistake one minute into a game could determine the rest of the night?

For most of the second period and parts of the third, the Lightning seemed like a team that was unsure of itself. A team that looked out of synch.

"No, no, I wouldn't say we were out of synch," Boucher said. "There's another team in front of us. It's not like we're playing a bantam team that is just going to let us run around and have our breakaways."

The truth is Boston has had the better forecheck. It has been better on faceoffs. And the past two games, Tim Thomas has been a better goaltender than Roloson.

This is not a Pittsburgh team that was offensively challenged. And it is not a Washington team that lacked cohesion.

In this series, the Lightning is not getting away with mistakes.

Against this opponent, Tampa Bay is paying for missed chances.

"I'm not going to use any cliches here," said Marty St. Louis. "We just didn't get the job done."

So is it time to panic? Not yet.

No matter how frazzled you may feel this morning, the world can change again by Game 4 on Saturday afternoon because logic rarely applies in the NHL postseason.

The Lightning may have given up home-ice advantage with this loss, but the team has actually played better on the road (6-2 record) than at home (3-3) in the playoffs.

And if you're worried about momentum, the Lightning went through seven games in the Eastern Conference final and the first five games of the Stanley Cup final without winning back-to-back games in 2004 and still walked away as champion.

Two losses is not the end of the world for the Lightning.

You just sort of wish there was a better explanation.

Royals 2, Rangers 1, 10 innings

0
0

Times wires
Friday, May 20, 2011

Royals 2, Rangers 1

10 innings

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jeff Francoeur's RBI single in the 10th ended the Royals' five-game skid with their seventh walkoff win. Greg Holland, called up from Triple A hours earlier, pitched 1⅓ innings for his first win in the majors. Melky Cabrera singled off Darren Oliver in the 10th and reached third on Eric Hosmer's single. Cody Eppley relieved and gave up Francoeur's hit.

Diamondbacks 2, Braves 1

0
0

Times wires


Friday, May 20, 2011

Diamondbacks 2, Braves 1

PHOENIX — Josh Collmenter blanked Atlanta for six innings to run his scoreless streak to 21 innings and help hand Jair Jurrjens his first loss of the season. Collmenter gave up two hits with one strikeout and no walks in his second start. The 25-year-old right-hander has allowed two runs in 26 innings. Chris Young hit a solo homer in the sixth, and Juan Miranda tripled in a run later in the inning.

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Boston Bruins, Game 3 reaction: What they're saying

0
0

Times staff, wires
Friday, May 20, 2011

Adam Steele, Lightning fan from Orlando

"The loss can only be attributed to one thing. Home team support. Go to any other conference final, or for that matter quarterfinal game. What do you find? A sea of the home team colors overflowing in the stands, towels spinning, lively chants. I've seen more excitement in spring training baseball. I'll be sitting in the nosebleed Saturday, with my Lightning gear, and since I live here, you are my home team and I will support you with everything I have."

Corey Masisak, NHL.com writer:

"Will Tyler Seguin get a statue before Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at this point?"

Shawn Roarke, NHL.com writer:

"Boston's decision-making at center red line has been impeccable in this game. That has been a huge difference."

Seth Rorabaugh, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Penguins blogger:

"Hey, someone call 1999 and tell them to take their style of hockey back."

Bruins coach Claude Julien, on the return of Patrice Bergeron after he missed two games because of a concussion:

"You could see the difference he makes."

Bruins defenseman Dennis Seidenberg:

"Both goalies made huge saves. This just felt more normal. I think both teams got more toward the type of game they wanted. I think it was a lot more typical and expected from us."

Scott Cullen, Canada's TSN network:

"It wasn't the most exciting game of the playoffs, to be sure, but it was the kind of road effort that the Bruins needed to take the lead in the series. They'll likely aim for more of the same in Saturday's matinee Game 4, while the Lightning could use more contributions from its supporting cast if the big guns are going to get locked down by Chara and company."

Don Brennan, Canada's QMI news agency:

"Zdeno Chara has the longest stick in the league, but it must have looked like a fishing rod to Marty St. Louis and Vinny Lecavalier all night. Chara spoiled a couple of their scoring chances with nice poke checks. "

Lightning's Marty St. Louis, on Bruins goalie Tim Thomas:

"As the game goes on, he keeps making saves, feels better about himself and is gaining confidence. We've just got make his game a little tougher and we didn't do that. Chew on it for 10 minutes and get back to work."

Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas has big Game 3 against Tampa Bay Lightning

0
0

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Friday, May 20, 2011

TAMPA — As competitive as Tim Thomas is, his Bruins teammates knew how determined he was for a big bounceback game Thursday night.

Thomas, 37, a Vezina Trophy finalist as the league's top goalie, had allowed nine goals over the first two games of the Eastern Conference final, rare in itself. He made some outstanding saves, but the Bruins gave up too many quality scoring chances due to an uncharacteristic wide-open game.

But on Thursday, when Boston played a more typical game, it got a more typical Thomas, who picked up his second career postseason shutout with 31 saves in a 2-0 win in Game 3.

"He wanted to step up and play the way he has been playing all year long," Bruins left wing Milan Lucic said. "He's been our MVP from Day 1. He's a very competitive guy. He takes a lot of pride in being the best player out there every night. And he showed that tonight. When he's feeling it, and feeling confident, he's a tough goalie to beat, and for us we have a lot of confidence in him, that's for sure."

Thomas credited the play in front of him, the Bruins playing a more tighter game, allowing himself to feel normal in net. Unlike the first two games, when Thomas had to fend off breakaways and odd-man rushes, he just needed to be steady Thursday.

"I'm kind of a product of the way the game goes in front of me," Thomas said. "I was able to play more under control tonight, but a lot of that had to do with … we played the way that I'm used to. I felt comfortable in a game like that."

Thomas was tested, including a flurry of chances just more than six minutes in. Thomas stopped a Teddy Purcell slap shot, then spun around to make a save on a Vinny Lecavalier wrist shot, before defensemen Dennis Seidenberg blocked an attempt by Marty St. Louis.

"They came in pretty fast," Thomas said. "And I was moving when the first shot came, so I made the save but as I was doing it, my momentum carried me towards the corner. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Lecavalier was going to get the rebound and that's when I did the spin-o-rama. I spun, got to the center of the net and fortunately got a leg on it."


Padres 1, Brewers 0

0
0

Times wires
Friday, May 20, 2011

Padres 1, Brewers 0

SAN DIEGO — Orlando Hudson hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth as the Padres edged the Brewers. Hudson hit a line drive to rightfield off Marco Estrada with the bases loaded to score pinch-runner Eric Patterson. Patterson scored without a throw from Corey Hart, who had to retreat to make the catch. Brewers leftfielder Ryan Braun left in the fifth with soreness in his left shoulder but extended his hitting streak to nine games with a single.

Giants 3, Dodgers 1

0
0

Times wires
Friday, May 20, 2011

Giants 3, Dodgers 1

LOS ANGELES — Madison Bumgarner came within an out of his first major-league shutout and earned his first victory of the season, and Freddy Sanchez drove in two runs for the Giants. Bumgarner allowed a run and six hits, including an RBI double to rookie Jerry Sands. The 21-year-old left-hander struck out three and walked two in his ninth start of the season. Bumgarner has a 1.32 ERA over his last five outings.

Tampa Bay Rays drop Dan Johnson, summon Justin Ruggiano, activate J.P. Howell

0
0

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Friday, May 20, 2011

The Tampa Bay Rays designated for assignment first baseman Dan Johnson and called up outfielder Justin Ruggiano on Friday.

They also activated lefthanded pitcher J.P. Howell from the disabled list and optioned righthanaded Rob Delaney back to Durham.

Johnson, who began the season as the starter, lost his job to Casey Kotchman and has played sparingly. The Rays have 10 days to trade, release or pass him through waivers.

With a $1-million salary, Johnson would seem likely to clear waivers so he could end up back in Durham.

Howell missed all of last season with a shoulder injury that required surgery.

Tampa Bay Rays drop first baseman Dan Johnson

0
0

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Friday, May 20, 2011

MIAMI — The Rays dumped opening day 1B Dan Johnson on Friday because he wasn't playing well and, as a result, was getting very limited playing time.

They replaced him with OF Justin Ruggiano, who was chosen because of how well he was playing at Triple-A Durham and, in part, because he likely won't play very often with the Rays.

The decision to designate Johnson for assignment was a product of his limited production (a .115 average, .346 OPS) and even more limited role. With Casey Kotchman taking over as the primary first baseman, Johnson, a lefty swinger, was limited to starting against left-handed starters and potentially pinch-hitting.

"It just made sense for us to include somebody else that may help us in another way," manager Joe Maddon said.

And the decision to make that Ruggiano, rather than top prospect Desmond Jennings or promising Brandon Guyer (who was up earlier), was based on the plan to have Ruggiano play only a couple days a week at most; likely spelling slumping LF Sam Fuld against left-handed starters. The Rays prefer Jennings and Guyer to play regularly to continue their development.

"For this particular role, we felt like Ruggiano was the right choice," executive vice president Andrew Friedman said. "He was very deserving, and we felt like it made more sense for those other guys to play every day."

Ruggiano, who was taken off the 40-man roster and passed unclaimed through waivers prior to spring training, was thrilled to get back to the big leagues — then to make his first game appearance since 2008 when he replaced CF B.J. Upton, who left after two innings with tightness in his left gluteal muscle. (Ruggiano was with the Rays for four days last season but didn't play.)

He hit .308 for Durham with six homers, 30 RBIs and 11 steals and had two walkoff hits while cutting down on his strikeouts and posting a .941 OPS against lefties.

"There's satisfaction and a lot of gratitude right now. I'm very grateful for them to bring me back up," Ruggiano, 28, said. "I'm excited. It's been a long time for me. I'm not going to lie and say I didn't get emotional (Thursday) night because it just felt like such an uphill battle, and now here we are."

THE DAN BAND: Johnson said by phone he was "kind of numb right now" over the move, understanding of the Rays' decision but mystified how he got himself into that spot.

"It's such a game of inches," he said.

"Everybody else's balls started falling, and mine were still being caught. Then I got hit on the wrist and missed some time, and then it just kept snowballing."

Maddon said the Rays hope to keep Johnson in the organization with an assignment to Triple A assuming he clears waivers. That's not automatic but with a $1 million guaranteed salary would seem likely.

Johnson said it was too early to say for certain if he would accept the assignment but indicated he didn't believe the Rays did him wrong and there was "still a good taste" for the organization. Plus if he declined the assignment and became a free agent, he would forfeit his salary.

FIRST AT FIRST: Without Johnson, Maddon will consider several options at first when the Rays next face a lefty (likely Monday in Detroit): Sean Rodriguez, Elliot Johnson, Ben Zobrist and, depending on the pitcher, potentially Kotchman.

J.P. DUTY: LHP J.P. Howell made it back to active duty a year and a day since surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder, making his first game appearance since Sept. 22, 2009, a gap of 605 days.

Maddon is hoping Howell can return to his 2008-09 form, when he went 13-6, posted a 2.48 ERA and saved 20 games. Howell said he believes he can be even better.

"Hopefully, I'm the 18-year-old Howell," he said. "I feel a lot better than I have in probably 8-9 years. So I'm excited just to get out there and get this thing moving."

Howell will be used on a limited basis at least initially — probably for no more than four outs in a game and not on back-to-back days.

"I'm definitely not going to push him early on," Maddon said.

RHP Rob Delaney, who was inconsistent in his three appearances (three runs, no hits, four walks, 13.50 ERA) was optioned back to Triple A.

WARMED UP: In addition to reducing the travel wear and tear, LHP David Price skipped going to Toronto for another reason — to throw his Wednesday bullpen session outside at Al Lang Field to get acclimated to the heat he'll face today.

MISCELLANY: RF Matt Joyce is the fifth Ray to have two triples in a game and first since Carl Crawford in July 2008. … Price, who promises a backflip or cartwheels if he hits a homer, has a .200 average (2-for-10).

Tampa Bay Lightning's Pavel Kubina does not sound close to getting back in lineup

0
0

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Friday, May 20, 2011

Pavel Kubina on Friday said he still hopes to play in the playoffs. But the Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman, out six games with concussion-like symptoms, did not deny he still has headaches, is still not skating and still cannot watch games from the press box because of the sensory overload.

"I always watch the games (from the coaches' offices)," Kubina said. "I can't even go watch from the press box. It's too loud and too many lights. It's hard but it's something I can't do anything about."

Kubina had not spoken publicly since May 3, four days after he took an elbow to the back of the head from Washington's Jason Chimera in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinal and his head hit the glass.

Kubina, who did not travel with the team to Boston for Games 1 and 2 of the East final, said he is doing light workouts with the medical staff and added, "I hope I'm going to be able to play in these playoffs."

Asked about a reasonable timetable he said, "I can't answer that. I really don't know. Nobody knows."

What he does know is this is one of the most difficult times of his career.

"It's very tough to watch the guys play and you're not able to do anything," said Kubina, who in July signed a two-year, free-agent deal. "When I came here in the summer, I was so happy. I knew we were a good enough team to make the playoffs. When we made it I was so happy … and this happened. I've never had a problem like that. I never missed much time. It's difficult. Hopefully, the guys can get it done."

Tampa Bay Lightning's Pavel Kubina, out with concussion-like symptoms, says there is no timetable for his return

0
0

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Friday, May 20, 2011

TAMPA — Pavel Kubina said he did not want to get into too many details of the symptoms he is experiencing.

But the Lightning defenseman, out the past six games because of concussion-like symptoms, revealed enough to paint a grim picture.

"I always watch the games (from the coaches' office)," Kubina said Friday. "I can't even go watch from the press box. It's too loud and too many lights. It's hard, but it's something I can't do anything about."

Kubina had not spoken publicly since May 3, four days after he took an elbow to the back of the head from Washington's Jason Chimera in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinal and his head hit the glass.

Kubina, who did not travel with the team to Boston for Games 1 and 2 of the East final, still has not skated and did not deny he still has headaches. He said he is doing light workouts with the medical staff, and "I hope I'm going to be able to play in these playoffs."

The Lightning could use him. At 6 feet 4, 250 pounds, Kubina is one of the team's biggest and most physical defensemen, and his absence is noticed, especially against a big, bruising team such as the Bruins. Plus, he has 46 games of playoff experience, as well as a Stanley Cup ring from the Lightning's 2003-04 team.

"He's a leader in our room," goalie Mike Smith said. "He has been there before. Any time you lose somebody with the experience of Kuby, it's definitely something you miss. You can't imitate a guy who has been there and won."

Asked about a reasonable timetable for a return, Kubina said, "I can't answer that. I really don't know. Nobody knows."

This is one of the most difficult times of his career, he said. "It's very tough to watch the guys play and you're not able to do anything," said Kubina, who in July signed a two-year free agent deal. "When I came here in the summer, I was so happy. I knew we were a good-enough team to make the playoffs. When we made it, I was so happy … and this happened. I've never had a problem like that. I never missed much time. It's difficult. Hopefully the guys can get it done."

Pavel Kubina's injury keeps him out of Tampa Bay Lightning playoff lineup

0
0

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Friday, May 20, 2011

TAMPA — Pavel Kubina said he did not want to get into too many details of the symptoms he is experiencing.

But the Lightning defenseman, out the past six games because of concussion-like symptoms, revealed enough to paint a grim picture.

"I always watch the games (from the coaches' office)," Kubina said Friday. "I can't even go watch from the press box. It's too loud and too many lights. It's hard, but it's something I can't do anything about."

Kubina had not spoken publicly since May 3, four days after he took an elbow to the back of the head from Washington's Jason Chimera in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinal and his head hit the glass.

Kubina, who did not travel with the team to Boston for Games 1 and 2 of the East final, still has not skated and did not deny he still has headaches. He said he is doing light workouts with the medical staff and added, "I hope I'm going to be able to play in these playoffs."

The Lightning could use him. At 6 feet 4, 250 pounds, Kubina is one of the team's biggest and most physical defensemen and his absence is noticed, especially against a big, bruising team such as the Bruins. Plus, he has 46 games of playoff experience, as well as a Stanley Cup ring from the Lightning's 2003-04 team.

"He's a leader in our room," Lightning goalie Mike Smith said. "He has been there before. Any time you lose somebody with the experience of Kuby, it's definitely something you miss. You can't imitate a guy who has been there and won."

Asked about a reasonable timetable Kubina said, "I can't answer that. I really don't know. Nobody knows."

What he does know is this is one of the most difficult times of his career.

"It's very tough to watch the guys play and you're not able to do anything," said Kubina, who in July signed a two-year, free-agent deal. "When I came here in the summer, I was so happy. I knew we were a good enough team to make the playoffs. When we made it I was so happy ... and this happened. I've never had a problem like that. I never missed much time. It's difficult. Hopefully, the guys can get it done."


Backs against the wall, Tampa Bay Lightning needs a best player to step up

0
0

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Friday, May 20, 2011

TAMPA — At this point, the Lightning could use a little rescuing. And whose turn is it?

Marty St. Louis?

Vinny Lecavalier?

The team could use a memory maker. The day cries out to be saved, and the fire needs to be put out, and the vultures need to be shooed away.

Steven Stamkos?

Boom-Boom Bergenheim?

The pressure is mounting again. The odds against them are climbing. The doubts have returned. The defense has taken one game off, and the offense the next, and the Bruins have goaltender Tim Thomas facing in the proper direction once again. If there has ever been a time the Lighting could use a player to claim ownership of a series, it is now.

Sombody?

Anybody?

"Everybody," said Tampa Bay coach Guy Boucher who, understandably, is a little greedy when it comes to such things as punching back. "We need our stars to be our stars, and we need our third-liners to contribute, and we need our fourth liners to go out there and do their job."

Do not underestimate the importance of today's game for the Lightning. True, they trail Boston only two games to one in the NHL Eastern Conference final, and true, they came from 3-1 down to overtake Pittsburgh only two series ago. Even if they were to lose today, the skating would continue.

On the other hand, the Bruins are better than the Penguins, and such a comeback would be a harder climb. Think of overcoming a 3-1 comeback over Pittsburgh as climbing Mount Everest. Think of overcoming a 3-1 deficit against the Bruins as climbing Everest barefooted.

In other words, yeah, today's game is kind of large.

Who, then, are we to expect to step up? Lecavalier, whose three game-winning goals in the playoffs (second in the NHL) this year have moved him into No. 1 in Lightning history with eight? St. Louis, who has seven career game-winners in the postseason? Bergenheim, who is still tied for the playoff lead with eight goals?

With this team, it's hard to tell. It has won nine times in the playoffs, and seven different players have scored the winning goal.

The thing is, this feeling of slight desperation is not new for the Lightning. Most NHL teams deal with it throughout the playoffs. Most have to gather themselves at times when it seems a season is intent on going in the wrong direction.

"We're pretty good with our backs to the wall," is the way Boucher puts it.

That's true. If the Lighting has proven anything in this turnaround season, it is that it is so darned stubborn. And for all the clichés about how a team's best players have to be its best players in the most important moments, opponents never quite know where the counter-punch is coming from.

"You never know who it's going to be," said Simon Gagne. "At the start of the season, it used to be Stamkos all the time and Marty all the time. That's not the way you have to do it in the payoffs. You need everybody to maybe be the guy."

Go back to Game 5 against the Penguins. Pittsburgh had won two in a row, it was on its home ice. And the pockets of its fans bulged with confetti was the celebration to come. Then Gagne scored two, and Stamkos scored two and Pavel Kubina scored two.

Then there was Game 6. when Teddy Purcell, Bergenheim, Steve Downie and Ryan Malone turned into the Beatles. After that, the Penguins seemed to know what was coming.

In Game 7, it was Bergenheim scoring the only goal as Dwayne Roloson stopped 37 shots in a 1-0 shutout.

"That's what got us here," Malone said. "Everyone is chipping in, and everyone is buying in."

If there is a comfort for the Lighting in their current predicament, it is the knowledge that big goals can come from anywhere. This is a deep team with the ability to blur its lines in crucial moments. In other sports, where teams can script where the ball goes on offense, the star of the game is easier to predict. In hockey, where improvisation and circumstance and effort have so much to do with the outcome, it can be anyone.

Take Game 2 of the Washington series, the game that swung the series. That was Lecavalier scoring twice, including in the death blow in overtime.

For that matter, go back to Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final, the biggest back-against-the-wall game in franchise history. That was St. Louis in double overtime, remember? The next game, Game 7, it was Ruslan Fedotenko.

Who might it be today? If the Lighting are to even the series, someone will stand up today.

St. Louis? Lecavalier? Stamkos?

Someone from the offense? The defense? The goaltender?

A shooter on the player play? A grinder on the penalty kill? Who knows? If Phil Esposito's heart is going to make it to June, maybe the key performer will be an official he finally agrees with.

Somebody. Anybody.

Volunteers?

Shaking off injury, Patrice Bergeron returns to form for Boston Bruins

0
0

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Friday, May 20, 2011

TAMPA — Bruins C Patrice Bergeron, second on the team in scoring in the playoffs, said he felt 100 percent Friday, one day after appearing in his first game of the series and first in nearly two weeks after suffering a concussion.

Bergeron said he knew he was ready to play and didn't worry about feeling any post-concussion symptoms.

"I felt good right away," said Bergeron, who took a regular shift and played more than 19 minutes.

Bergeron's most notable appearance was in the faceoff circle, where he won 18 of 28 draws.

"Patrice looked like a guy who hadn't missed a step," Bruins coach Claude Julien said.

HEY 19: Rookie Tyler Seguin, 19, has made a splash in this series with three goals and three assists in three games — the first three postseason games of his NHL career. But it's a tad bittersweet because he is doing all this damage against one of his idols — Lightning GM Steve Yzerman.

Seguin, the second pick in last summer's draft, wears the No. 19 in part because that was Yzerman's number with the Red Wings. Growing up, Seguin said he had two Yzerman posters on his wall and a few items signed by Yzerman.

"It's a difficult situation because I look up to him, but he's the other team's GM," Seguin said with a smile. He also admitted it was "pretty cool" to be playing well while his favorite player is watching.

WATCH YOUR ELBOWS: The most controversial moment of Thursday's Game 3 was when Lightning D Marc-Andre Bergeron was given a two-minute penalty for elbowing after a hit on David Krejci. Replays appeared to show Bergeron hit Krejci with his shoulder. And Lightning coach Guy Boucher gave the officials an earful in a very animated outburst.

"I felt like I looked," Boucher said. "It was just the heat of the moment. I felt the previous game there were a lot of penalties that we didn't deserve and that probably carried over (to Thursday). ... When you look at the replay, I think it was a ... clean check. But I thought the referees did a very good job. ... It was a playoff game well managed by players and referees."

For the record, the Bruins had no issues with the hit either.

"It was a good hit," Julien said. "The league is very sensitive to head issues. So sometimes they're making a call. And maybe it wasn't the right call."

FACING OFF: One area the Lightning will look to improve today is faceoffs. It has lost 78 of 138 in the past two games, including 37 of 65 in Game 3.

"The funny thing is that we did a great job in the first game," said Boucher, whose team won 41 of 67 in Game 1. "It's our job to make sure that we get at least closer to 50 (percent) and work our way after that and get above 50 so that they don't get more than half the chances to start with the puck. It definitely makes a difference."

History could be made in Derby Lane's Gold Trophy Juvenile

0
0

By Don Jensen, Times Correspondent
Friday, May 20, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — He is a superstitious septuagenarian who often switches conversation subjects before his standout runs in a significant sprint race.

Nova kennel owner Hans Limmer will talk about dinner plans or his life experiences, anything to divert attention from his Sprint Classic winner Hi Noon Renegade, the favorite for tonight's $20,000 Gold Trophy Juvenile at Derby Lane.

The 72nd annual event (Race 8, 9:33 p.m.) could make history. Hi Noon Renegade can become the first greyhound to win the Gold Trophy and the 36-year-old Sprint Classic in the same year; Nova attempts to become the first kennel to win the Gold Trophy three consecutive seasons.

"The old saying is the next race is always the toughest race," said Limmer, who won the Gold Trophy with Ls Jack Williams and Hi Noon Rembrant. "Lady luck plays a big factor. You get a little bump and you're out. I don't think (Hi Noon Renegade) has to prove much more. He won the Sprint, and he won so many races after that. … He's a true champion."

Hi Noon Renegade drew the No. 6 box for the 550-yard event. Other starters from the rail: Kentucky Fire (Cal Holland kennel), Kiowa Rousey (J.E. O'Donnell Jr.), Speedy Sprocket (Royal Racing), Brother Buck (D'Arcy), Longo (Floyd & Porter), Tortuga Trophy (D'Arcy) and Kiowa Grand Gary (Patriot).

The only dog to win the Gold Trophy and Sprint Classic has been ZEZ kennel's Flying Newport, who did it in different years (Gold Trophy in 2003, Sprint Classic in 2005). Nova is one of five kennels with back-to-back Gold Trophy titles, matching Robert Thorne (2001-02), Keith Dillon (1981-82), G.A. Alderson (1979-80) and C.A. Rhodes (1941-42).

Trained by Rosa Gibbs for owner Charles Haliburton III of Centennial, Colo., Hi Noon Renegade swept all four Gold Trophy qualifiers to extend his career-best winning streak to eight. He has 16 wins in his past 21 starts, raising his career record to 23 wins in 43 races. "He's gotten better and better," Limmer said. "He's an easygoing dog with a good head on his shoulders. Rosa has done a good job with him."

Hi Noon Renegade was brought to Derby Lane last year from Texas. He is a 25-month-old male out of a litter from Dodgem By Design and Bryan's Baby. Dodgem By Design, a 2002 All-America team member, won the Sprint Classic. Bryan's Baby is a sister to 2005 All-America sprinter Joe Hearns, a stakes winner and former Tampa Greyhound Track wins leader who was sixth in the 2006 Derby Lane Million.

NOTES: Flying Coal City of McAllister kennel ran his third schooling race Friday since returning from an injured shoulder. … Tracks open early today for the Preakness Stakes undercard at Pimlico in Baltimore. Derby Lane and Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar open at 10 a.m., Tampa Greyhound at 10:15.

Dr. Remote

0
0

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Friday, May 20, 2011

Mets at Yankees: 7 p.m. on Ch. 13. Fox's Game of the Week is back in prime time with a subway series matchup that is going out to 36 percent of the country. Joe Buck and Tim McCarver handle the broadcast duties.

HBO Boxing: 10 p.m. on HBO. Co-main events with a rematch between Jean Pascal (26-1-1, 16 KOs) taking on Bernard Hopkins (51-5-2, 32 KOs) and Chad Dawson (29-1, 17 KOs) against Adrian Diaconu (27-2, 15 KOs).

Sports Connection: 11 p.m. on BHSN (Ch. 47). Postgame reaction and interviews from Game 4 of the Lightning-Bruins series, including analysis from Phil Esposito.

Lightning team dentist counts teeth not goals

0
0

By Lane DeGregory, Times Staff Writer
Friday, May 20, 2011

TAMPA — Before Thursday's game, while the hockey fans were filing into the arena and the players were lacing their skates, Dr. Tony Castro and his colleagues sat at a table outside the Lightning locker room, eating roast beef from plastic plates — and talking teeth.

Most of the players' mouths are in great shape. This season, the team has lost only 15 teeth. Most of the guys have been wearing mouth guards. Not much to worry about tonight, the team dentists decided.

Center Nate Thompson, who had a front tooth knocked out during Game 4 against the Capitals, still has a gap — but the hole healed well.

And they would keep an eye on Marty St. Louis. A stick blade to the mouth in Game 1 against the Penguins had loosened the forward's teeth, necessitating a double root canal. In Game 2 of the Capitals series he got whacked again twice, requiring the dentist to cement three of his teeth back in.

There isn't time to finish St. Louis' root canals until after the season. So team dentist Sam Caranante built a tooth cast of reinforced resin, stuffed some cotton around St. Louis' gums and tried to ease his pain.

"For a little guy," Castro said, "that Marty is real tough."

Ten minutes before the face-off, Castro set out to talk to the team trainer.

St. Louis was still a little uncomfortable. But nothing that would affect his play. Castro headed upstairs and took his seat near the center of the rink, five rows up, just to the right of the players' box.

If anyone gets whacked by a puck or a stick or a fist, he can climb over the railing, down into the tunnel, and try to fix up the player right there.

"Our job during the game," said Castro, "is basically to just stop the bleeding and get them back out on the ice."

•••

Once, hockey players considered gap-toothed grins a badge of honor. Missing teeth meant playing hard, being willing to sacrifice your smile.

But in these days of televised games, advertising spreads and trophy wives, "Players worry about what they look like now," said team dentist Vince Caranante, 77.

Every NHL team has a dentist. The Lightning have three, plus two oral surgeons, who rotate being on-call for home games. If a Lightning player is hurt on the road, the opposing team's dentist patches him up until he gets back to Tampa.

Caranante and his brother Sam, 68, have been taking care of the players since the franchise came to Florida. Gil Rivera, 35, who bought their practice, also works the games. Besides repairing hockey injuries, the dentists give the guys regular check-ups, fill cavities and build crowns.

Castro and Dr. Bob Orta are the team's oral and maxillofacial surgeons. They stitch players' split lips, pop fractured jaws back in place.

In the training room, the dentists and doctors work on players still standing in their skates or sit them on benches. They have an x-ray machine, mirrors and lights, tools and temporary cement, syringes and novocain. If the dentist or surgeon can't fix something during the game, he brings the player back to his Tampa office afterwards.

"Hockey pucks are pretty nasty," Orta said. "They're frozen solid, coming at you at 100 miles per hour. That can really do some damage to a face."

Sticks aren't quite as hard, but cut with brute force. And many of the players' mouth injuries are from opponents' fists.

"I always tell them, it's better to take a hit straight on and mess up your teeth," Castro said. "Teeth are much easier to fix than if you turn your head and take a Sunday punch to the jaw."

•••

Hang out with the Lightning's dental team and you'll hear surprising statistics, stories so gruesome they make your teeth hurt.

• About half of the players have lost teeth. Goalies almost never get mouth injuries because their helmets have a cage.

• When a high stick broke off Nate Thompson's front tooth, the trainer found it on the ice. Sometimes, if you wash a tooth right away you can pop it back in. But Thompson's split at the root. So Rivera said, "I had to just take out what was left."

• Of all the hockey horror, team dentists agreed, Craig MacDonald's was the worst. On Dec. 20, 2007, a puck smashed into MacDonald's face, fracturing nine teeth, only three of which could be salvaged. He also required 25–30 stitches to close a cut in his tongue and an additional 50 inside his lip and gums. MacDonald underwent three root canal surgeries the following morning.

"It took me a total of 10 appointments, four hours each, just to make his mouth make sense," Rivera said.

•••

After Thursday's game, while the hockey fans filed out of the arena and the players unlaced their skates, the surgeon and dentist met in the training room.

The Lighting had lost to the Bruins. No one had been hurt.

But St. Louis' teeth were still aching. Behind the cotton packing, his gums were swollen. Castro and Sam Caranante worked on the forward for 40 minutes, draining pus and trying to stabilize his teeth.

They don't know if he will be able to keep all three. But they patched him up enough to get him back out on the ice tonight.

"He isn't worried. He just doesn't want the distraction," the dentist said. "He kept going, 'At least it's not a knee or a shoulder. It's just teeth.' "

Lane DeGregory can be reached at (727) 893-8825 or ldegregory@sptimes.com.

Viewing all 18574 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images