Third Period of Blackhawks-Lightning

It looks like I'm one period too late.

Arriving to listen to the third period as usual (after the boy is put to bed), I look and see the Bolts and 'Hawks combined for eight flippin' goals in the second, including two goals from Krabby Patty Sharp and a hat trick from Steven Stamkos. Seen him?

It's Ray Emery and Dwayne Roloson, each with a suffering save percentage. Brett Connolly also scored in the second, getting his second goal in as many games, the first and second of his career. I guess it was a good idea to keep him in the bigs.

Anyway, play is under way. Here we go.

Say, I know Martin St. Louis and Stamkos have been great together over the last few years, but it is heart-warming to have Marty playing with Vinnie Lecavalier again. It's like every shift is a power play sometimes.

Do you know who is a knob sometimes? Patrick Kane. But he had three assists in the second. Keep an ear open for when he's on the ice.

Pavel Kubina knocks Jonathon Toews into Roloson for a stoppage. Marty, Vinnie, and Steven are out for the next shift. Triple threat? No, the 'Hawks control. 'Hawks seem to be controlling the attack.

Purcell has a chance in the crease, Emery freezes the puck, and we're stopped again.

Do you know what phrase Lightning play-by-play man Dave Mishkin uses a lot? "Knuckle-ball." Just thought I'd point that out.

Stamkos nearly gets his fourth, but the Bolts and 'Hawks are rumbling through a tight third. Four minutes left, and the words I'm hearing over and over are "...with the save."

I would love a late goal here. I do not want to deal with the anxiety of overtime. Lots of giveaways. Too many. Things sound sloppy. Wish I could see what's going on.

Toews is scary.

Faceoff to the left of Roloson with seconds left. Bolland vs. Moore. Moore wins, puck goes out of play, we get to do it again. Toews vs.Moore. 4.7 seconds left.

Overtime next.

Tom Pyatt is everywhere on the first shift of OT. Still don't feel as though I know Pyatt. Newer Bolts like Pyatt, Gilroy, Gervais... they are not faces to me yet, only names. I've only watched one period of hockey so far this season, the third period of the Winnipeg game. Not enough, but nobody will tell me my priorities are out of whack.

But then there are the guys I know out there, making things happen...

Marc-Andre Bergeron keeps the puck in the Chicago zone, sending it ahead to St. Louis who holds, sends it across the goal-mouth to the waiting Lecavalier, and the captain knocks it past Emery, winning it with less than a minute left in overtime. The St. Pete Times Forum erupts, and Lecavalier has his fourth game winning goal of the season.

What a guy. What a start he's having to the year.

The team has won six games, and he's scored the winner in four of therm. He's scored six goals, and four have been game winners. Nice. Clutch.

Last night I was mindlessly chirping in my "preview" that the Lightning need huge things from their three offensive stars, and they bring it against Chicago. Stamkos scores a hat trick, and then St. Louis and Lecavalier connect on the overtime goal.

Damn, I love this team.