Phil Esposito, the fiery hero on the ice,
was never one to play his cards close to his vest.
Now, generations removed from playing the game himself,
he sits in the media box at Amelie Arena,
providing color commentary on Tampa Bay Lightning games,
watching the players of the franchise he founded
as they bumble and stumble,
botch passes,
lose face-offs,
and ice the puck again and again.
And just like during his days as a center for the Blackhawks, Bruins, or Rangers,
Espo can't hide his emotions.
His commentary on the game,
as the Bolts,
after watching the banner of their 2021 Stanley Cup Championship
being raised to the ceiling in a pregame ceremony,
clatter their way around the ice en route to a 6-2 loss,
is decidedly that of a sad old uncle,
shaking his head and repeating
"what a shame, what a shame,"
unable and uninterested in hiding the disappointment in his voice.
Lightning Coach Jon Cooper,
his freshly-inked and well-earned three-year contract extension in his pocket,
watches his charges chase the Penguins around the ice,
unable to find their legs or form,
while the Pens, missing core players like
Sidney Crosby, Gino Malkin, Jake Guentzel, and more,
beat them with hustle and structure.
Six minutes remaining,
Lightning down three-zip
(coulda been a lot worse if not for Andrei Vasilevskiy in the home net),
and Coop says let's go for it:
he yanks the Big Cat for the extra attacker,
and the Bolts get one from Anthony Cirelli!
followed by a Pens empty netter
then the Bolts get one from Killorn! They're clawing their way back
followed by a Pens empty netter,
followed by a third Pens empty netter.
6-2 Pens is your final,
the last five goals of the game coming with Vasy on the bench.
A clumsy, uninspired performance to open their championship defense,
accurately summed up by Captain Stamkos:
"A dud."
The Lightning return to action on Thursday in Detroit.
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