A few weeks ago, I blogged a positive swing on the Lightning early in the season.  Guess I was wrong, huh. 

    Listening to Head Coach Barry Melrose today, it's all about shooters not shooting, lack of offense.  You got that right!  30 goals in 15 games.  That's almost unbelievable.  But it doesn't stop there.  He said the defense has played okay. Compared to the offense, yeh.  The only area the Lightning is showing NHL standards right now is goaltending. 

    Melrose has to be almost a wits-end trying to figure out what combinations to use to boost the offense, fix the power play, the penalty kill, heck, fix it all.  We are going to find out in the next month if the leaders on this team are going to lead.  We are also going to find out what young talented players are going to "man-up" and realize they're not in Kansas anymore.  Enough of this baby-coddling.  Either you got it (Stamkos) or you don't.  A talented player, but you better get tougher and you better get more aggressive, fast. 

    Quick story.  When I was growing up, all my friends were older than me, by a couple of years in some respects.  I was the runt, the punk, the little 5-foot nothing to push around until I decided that I had enough.  Playing street hockey one day, I was getting bounced around. So, on the next bump I smacked this guy in the chops with my elbow, and chipped his tooth.  He ran home in extreme pain.  I felt bad, but I also gained some respect.  A message sent, a mesasge received.  It's your choice.  By the way, never had a problem again.  I became one of their peers.  Go earn it.

    Tom Korun