Lightning doesn’t strike twice in January, Caps win 10th straight

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Alex Ovechkin, Rick Tocchet, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals

The Tampa Bay Lightning are 1 of 2 teams Washington lost to during January (the other being the Kings), but Alexander Ovechkin saw to it that they wouldn’t strike twice as the Capitals won 3-2 and tied the all-time franchise win streak at 10 games.

After giving up a 2-goal lead, the Capitals snapped out of a lull and buzzed the Lightning net. Ovechkin scored his 35th goal of the season at 6:26 of the 3rd period and his team remains atop the Eastern Conference with 80 points (37-12-6).

I know a popular sentiment for detractors is saying the Capitals play in a weak division. Whether that is true or not, no one is laying down against Washington, who seem to keep getting an opponents “A-game” shot out of a cannon at them. Sunday was no different as head coach Rick Tocchet has the Lightning playing well and the Capitals really had to fight off a very physical and aggressive team today.

Now Washington will regroup and prepare for a test in Boston on Tuesday. And if they pass that test with a victory, this will become the longest winning streak in franchise history. Much like Tampa Bay today, I expect to see the best effort possible from the struggling, yet talented Bruins.

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Leafs changing color well before trade deadline

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Anaheim Ducks, Brian Burke, Calgary Flames, Dion Phaneuf, J.S. Giguere, Toronto Maple Leafs

Brian Burke, Toronto Maple Leafs president and general manager, is reshaping his team in a big way.

I’m here in San Diego watching the Red Wings at the Penguins on NBC, killing time until the Washington Capitals host the Tampa Bay Lightning on NHL Gamecenter Live and low and behold the Burke bombs get dropped.

In two separate deals today he has added 4 players (He added goalie J.S. Giguere from the Anaheim Ducks and defenseman Dion Phaneauf, forward Fredrik Sjostrom, and prospect defenceman Keith Aulie from the Calgary Flames) to the Maple Leafs roster and moved 6 off of it (goalie Vesa Toskala and forward Jason Blake to the Ducks, and defenseman Ian White and forwards Matt Stajan, Nick Hagman and Jamal Mayers to the Flames).

There is still over a month until the NHL trade deadline, so this may be the precursor to even more deals for the Maple Leafs and the official kick-off to a frenzied window of NHL player movement.

More coverage about the Maple Leafs Trades:

NHL.com: Maple Leafs nab Phaneuf, Giguere

TSN.ca: Flames trade D Phaneuf to Maple Leafs in seven-player deal

TSN.ca: Maple Leafs acquire Giguere; ship Toskala, Blake to Ducks

Let’s go Tebow

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Florida Gators, Jacksonville Jaguars, NFL Draft, Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow, former all-world quarterback at Florida, is being devoured by the media, for the most part..

You can read about the Senior Bowl and Tebow’s week of practice here, courtesy The Miami Herald.

I don’t pay all that much attention to college football, but I do know Tebow was extremely successful as quarterback of the Florida Gators. I’ve read that he could be the savior of the Jacksonville Jaguars, even before the 2009 regular season was even completed.

Give the 22-year-old a break and let the dominoes fall as they may. He has proven he is tough and can be a leader in the system and program he was part of in Gainesville, FL. Now let him go through the process of the Senior Bowl, NFL Scouting Combine, NFL Draft and hopefully a rookie training camp and at least a few professional seasons, before he is judged as a pro football player.

I don’t want to go anywhere near his Super Bowl ad and religious views, but do believe, as strictly an athlete, he has worked incredibly hard to be the best football player he can be.

Why must so many people feel the need to label him at the end of January and say he can’t do this or can’t do that? I will sit back and let the coaches and scouts do their job (that they do much better and at a more intense level than any media member or fan) and pay close attention, hoping Tebow gets a fair shake.

If he can help a team win, he’ll be playing on Sundays. If he can’t then he can hang his hat on the fact he was one of the most dominant players in college football history. Not a terrible thing to settle for.