It was all the rage last spring and now it's back. The defending Southeast Division champion - it's true - Tampa Bay Lightning open the season tonight. Here are the games to circle on your calendar:
TONIGHT, BOSTON: Marty, Vinny, Habby, the boys are back in town.
DEC. 29, ANAHEIM: Welcome back, Mr. Prospal. Enough time will have passed by now for the Lightning and its fans to figure how much they miss the team's points-leader from last season. Think Cory Stillman, Vinny Prospal's replacement at wing, will be fired up for this one?
DEC. 31, FLORIDA: The champagne and the blood should flow again on New Year's Eve when in-state rival visits the St. Pete Times Forum for the first time.
JAN. 19, COLORADO: An All-Star-laden Avalanche makes its only trip to Tampa. This will be an especially tough test because the Lightning will be a few days removed from a season-long road trip and a day removed from a four-game swing through western Canada.
MARCH 5, NEW JERSEY: The last time the Stanley Cup champs played in Tampa, Patrick Elias scored on a giveaway in a 3-1 win in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Lightning went down 3-1 and never came home, losing the series 4-1.
