Friday was an awesome day off. First, I had the big fund raising garage sale at my house for the 3day walk for breast cancer. Then I had an afternoon nap. Next, I took my son to his hockey practice, which I’ve only seen two of since October(worst dad ever!). Then it was off the see my Tampa Bay Lightning kick some Buffalo Sabres butt at the Ice Palace. Too bad they lost

Friday night is hockey practice for my little guy I wish I could be there but I have to work. I made it last week, and it was good to see him skate with the puck. I bought him a ball that is made of rubber, and it’s the same weight as a puck, so he practice his stick handling in the driveway with his roller blades.

I was at the Tampa Bay Lightning game Tuesday night against the Dallas Stars. Unfortunately, the Bolts lost. However, I was a big winner. Before the game I entered a raffle to benefit the Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation. I paid ten dollars for seven raffle tickets and got the call on my cell phone just after the start of the second period. I won a goalie stick autographed by the whole team, with a certificate of authenticity. Wednesday night I will mount it in my son’s room, which is Lightning themed.

Friday night was my son’s first hockey practice in two months, the first of the new session. His hockey practice is almost an hour from my work, so I planned on leaving work about 45 minutes early so I could get there in time for the start of practice. I wound up leaving work 15 minutes late and showing up at practice as he was skating off the ice. He was so excited I was there and couldn’t wait to tell me about the goal he scored. I wish I was there to see it…

Thursday night the Tampa Bay Lightning won a huge Southeast Division battle against the Carolina Hurricanes. Lightning rookie goalie, Johan Holmquist posted his first NHL shutout. Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis both scored their league leading 32nd goals of the season. Looks like my Bolts are picking up where they left off before the All Star break. They need to keep rolling, they are eight points behind division leader Atlanta.

My son finished his hockey season back in the beginning of November, so the skates have been sitting in the hockey bag for a while. Last weekend, I decided to take the kids ice skating since it had been a while, and it was good to get back on the ice. Daddy even took a fall and got all wet, which of course, gave the kids a big laugh.

My son will start playing again for his team in February.

Thursday night the Tampa Bay Lightning won a wild one against the Washington Capitals, 5-4. It was Tampa Bay’s third win in a row, and allowed the Bolts to leapfrog Washington into the eight seed in the East. However, there is still a lot of hockey to be played before the end of the season, but I hope this is the beginning of a run for Tampa Bay. Up next is the Buffalo Sabres, who have beat the Bolts twice this season. This game should be a good measuring stick of where the Bolts are at….

What the hell was that terd I watched last night from Montreal??? The Tampa Bay Lightning played their ass off, dominated the game, even got a power play goal, had around 40 shots on goal, twice as many as the Habs, and still lost 4-2. Albeit, the 4th goal was an empty netter. Two things, Lightning goalie Marc Denis let in at least to soft goals last night that he would love to have back. Not just soft, but flacid. When the guys in front of you are playing that hard, you have got to make the saves. Second, the Habs goalie, Cristobal Huet, stood on his friggin head last night. It’s nearly impossible to win when you run into a goalie playing like that! Huet stole the game for Montreal.

This is getting old. The Lightning have been up and down - win 3 in a row, lose 3 in a row. It’s enough to cause a fan to pull his hair out. There have been a few bright spots in the season, especially, the play of Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis. Vinnie on pace for a 45-50 goal season, which would a career high. If only the Lightning could do something to improve the play on the blue line and improve their power play, which is last in the league. Grrr!

More Tampa Bay Lightning news. Christine Tortorella, the wife of head coach John Tortorella wrote a children’s book called “Hey, Coach“. Proceeds from the sale of the book go to charity, including the Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation.

Also, the Lightning established a scholarship fund in honor of retired captain and member of the Stanley Cup Champion Lightning team, Dave Andreychuk. Dave was honored before the start of the Buffalo Sabres game, which was the team that he began his NHL career with. Plus, the first 5,000 fans received a free Dave Andreychuk bobble head with him hoisting the Stanley Cup!