Lightning Take Home Opener 3-1

The Lightning started off their season with a win at home. It was the 5th straight home opener that the Lightning have won in a row. The stars came out in the opener and dominated the Devils.

The scoring was led by Vinny Lecavalier, Vinny Prospal, and Martin St. Louis. Lecavalier scored two goals, while St. Louis assisted on each of the Lightning's three goals in the game. Lecavalier scored 52 goals last season and it looks like he is ready to try and at least duplicate that season this year. It was great to see the top line play as well as they did. It is important for the Lightning to get as much as they can out of that line.

The problem for the Lightning last year was not scoring, but goal tending. Johan Holmquist, who I think should have been the starter from the get go last season, had a great game against the Devils. He blocked 26 of 27 shots and the only goal he gave up was on a power play. He also stopped 7 of 8 shots that were made on the power play. Holmquist made a great save at the end of the first period to keep the game 1-0 going into the second period. Had that goal gone in it could have changed the momentum of the game. He looks ready to step up and be the goaltender that this team needs to get back to the Stanley Cup Finals.