You've got a rookie goaltender in net... you've GOT to give him more than 2 goals of support.

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On the one hand it's gratifying to see Ranger and Artyukhin be two of the best players for the Lightning tonight. On the other, it's frightening that they've been two of the best players for the Lightning both in Montreal and in Toronto. Shot totals were plenty lopsided at 34-19 in favor of the Lightning but scoring chances were pretty much even due to some thoughtless, sloppy play.

Paul Ranger ended with an assist, a team leading +2, and 2 shots on goal in 15:39 of ice time. His final shift in the third period epitomized just how well he is playing at both ends of the rink, taking the body to win the puck on a Montreal dump in, keeping a puck in at the Montreal blueline for a shot on goal, then breaking up a 2-on-1 when Boyle was caught pinching to finish the shift off. Evgeny Artyukhin also had an assist and an impressive 5 hits in 17:35 of ice time. The entire rest of the team only had 6 hits combined.

On the other side of the coin Nick Tarnasky only played 2 shifts tonight. 2. If that's all he's going to be used I believe the Lightning have an obligation to send him back to Springfield where he can actually play and develop. Brian Eklund stopped 16 of 19 shots faced in the loss. He was also beaten a handful of times and enjoyed the aid of the goalposts to save him. It was a rough spot to put Brian in for his premiere game and all told, he made enough saves to give the Lightning a chance at points. Again, with a rookie netminder in, just two goals is simply unacceptable in terms of support.

Game sheet from NHL.com.

Lightning CHL prospects had a mediocre weekend this past Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as only one prospect made a lot of noise. Stan Lascek had a first star, five-point (1+4) night for Chicoutimi against P.E.I. on Saturday. Lascek’s point streak now stands at 11 games.

Weekend Wrap-Up:

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As mentioned, Stanislav Lascek had a goal and four assists to pace Chicoutimi to a 5-2 win over P.E.I. Saturday. He was also plus-two for the game and had a two minute minor penalty. On Friday night, Lascek and the Sagueneens took on Lightning prospect Mark Tobin and the struggling Rimouski Oceanic. Lascek had two assists as Chicoutimi won 5-0. He also had six shots on goal. He is second in the QMJHL in scoring, two points behind teammate Maxime Boisclair. Six of Lascek’s 16 goals have come on the powerplay. Three others were scored shorthanded. Chicoutimi is just two points behind Division-leading Rouyn-Noranda with two games in hand.

According to the Springfield Republican, Falcons GM/Owner Bruce Landon is preparing to fly to Tampa in early December to hammer out a long term extention for the single affiliation agreement the team has with the Tampa Bay Lightning through the year 2010. The deal would coincide with the length of time left on the Falcons' lease with the newly rennovated Mass Mutual Center. The two organization's current affiliation agreement expires this summer.

It was a tough spot to be in as a team. The Falcons were playing their third game in three nights and their fourth without starting netminder Brian Eklund who was still up with the Lightning. Something had to give... I just had hoped it wouldn't be against a division opponent the Falcons were tied with in 1st in the division. But the dam finally broke in the third period.

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Rookie Gerald Coleman took the loss stopping 24 of 28 shots. The positives: Jason Jaspers continued the season of his lifetime with a goal and an assist and Zbynek Hrdel notched his first AHL point. Still, the hope has to be that by next weekend the callup situation will be resolved and possibly Eklund and one or two of the forwards will be back with the team.

Game sheet from TheAHL.com.