* Nice to see the Lightning with several sellouts in the past fortnight. The one against Detroit, however, was less than feel-good quality. Not only did the Bolts lose to the Red Wings, 6-2, but the sizable contingent of vocal Detroit fans, clad in team garb, gave the Forum an eerie, non-home ice feel.
Put it this way, if those fans were mini-vacationing visitors following their home team to Florida in February, well, thanks for visiting. We appreciate your patronage. But if you simply have Detroit roots or were a Gordie Howe fan as a kid, get over it. You live here.
*Among the cooler names for a sports franchise: The Lightning’s Estero-based, East Coast Hockey League affiliate, the Florida Everblades.