https://youtu.be/FLSdq9KMraU?si=P5NtV9XfT_fOntry

[First off, hi guys and gals. We never post in hee. Ever. Yet there's enough stuff in the division that should get some more focus. I'll shut up on that but I'm surprised not to see Leafs, Habs, Bruins or other thins in here ]

The Lightning were playing against the Detroit Red Wings before Christmas (did you have a merry one?) and Ben Bishop, starting goaltender and looming UFA, went down with an injury during game play for 3-4 weeks. What's ensued in Tampa Bay has been a failure because the Bolts have used one man and one man alone in Bishop's place: Andrei Vasilevskiy who is projected to be Bishop's replacement.

Back-to-back games or no, Vasy starts. This is in spite of the Bolts controlling Kristers Gudlevskis (who you may remember from the 2014 Olympics and his showing for Latvia). Kristers has been Lightning property for years and has played steadily for the AHL Syracuse Crunch. He's played (or served) with Vasy too. Yet at no point in time after his recall did Kristers step in or start for Vasy despite some mediocrity.

Gudlevskis got sent back to Syracuse for playing time instead of getting NHL playing time (I think his debut). The Bolts recalled Adam Wilcox to serve as Vasy's backup... And again, it's just to sit on the bench / play in practice. Wilcox is another prospect netminder who I believe played college hockey before joining the Lightning org through Syracuse.

Is this really the wisest thing to do? I think yesterday's loss to Pittsburgh shows it's foolish. The Bolts defense was shit, and that made Vasileskiy the last line of defense. The same goalie who gave up 4 goals the day before in Philly.

Is it really wise to show ultra/learning faith in one netminder and wear him down at the same time? If this was 2015-16, I'd be more comfortable simply because the schedule wasn't clouded with too many back-to-back games (and generally better scheduling). Now? Now is the time to utilize the men you carry, not just fill roster spots.