Expectations high as Tampa Bay Lightning starts its season

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The Tampa Bay Bucs are in their 14th season without winning a playoff game.

The Tampa Bay Rays finished with the next-to-worst record in major league baseball.

Finally, hockey is here.

The Tampa Bay Lighting start their latest journey tonight, facing the always strong Detroit Red Wings at Amalie Arena. Considering the successful off-season of the team, expectations have rarely been higher for the Lightning.

The Lightning, which has made the finals and the semi-finals in the last two seasons, hope this is the year they can finally push through the final hurdle. Certainly, the team has paid to be a contender, giving massive contracts to Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman and Nikita Kucherov.

“If I was going to pick a team where I’d want to be behind the bench, it would be this one,” said Lightning coach Jon Cooper.

It is a different challenge to go into a season with a pat hand. There are other talented teams in the NHL, too, but everyone expects a good season.

“We have to perform,” Cooper said. “Our goaltenders, our D, our forwards. Our power play has to be better.

Gary Shelton is one of the most recognized and honored sportswriters in the history of the state. He has won the APSE's national columnist of the year twice and finished in the top 10 eight times. He was named the Florida Sportswriter of the Year six times. Gary joined SaintPetersBlog in the spring, helping to bring a sports presence to the website. Over his time in sports writing, Gary has covered 29 Super Bowls, 10 Olympics, Final Fours, Masters, Wimbledons and college national championships. He was there when the Bucs won a Super Bowl, when the Lightning won a Stanley Cup and when the Rays went to a World Series. He has seen Florida, FSU and Miami all win national championships, and he covered Bear Bryant, Bobby Bowden and Don Shula along the way. He and his wife Janet have four children: Eric, Kevin, K.C. and Tori. To contact, visit [email protected].