BREAKING: Bolts Malone Busted On DUI And Possession Charges

((HT: 98.7 The Fan-Tampa/SunSports))

Last night, the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 behind the work of Kristers Gudlevskis in net and Eric Brewer's two goals. Right now, the Bolts are second in the Atlantic Division ahead of Montreal. And the second place team gets home ice in the first round of the playoffs...


It might be done without one of their players...

Around 5:30 this morning, Lightning forward Ryan Malone was arrested on DUI and cocaine possession charges. He is currently being held on $2,500 bond. Malone has only 15 points in 57 games this season as one of the top-five paid guys on the roster with a cap hit of $4.5-million (Stamkos, Filppula, Purcell, Carle, and St. Louis) and he has another year left on his deal.

From Damian Cristodero of the Tampa Bay Times, Lightning GM Steve Yzerman released a statement:

“We are aware of the situation concerning Ryan Malone this morning. Ryan will not travel with the team to Washington today, but beyond that we cannot comment further at this time.”

Here's the arrest report and the beginning of a very long day for a team veteran...

Does St. Louis Want To Head To Broadway...???

((HT: Sportsnet))

Apparently so...

With a wife from Connecticut and a house in Greenwich, he may have asked Lightning GM Steve Yzerman for some movement...

His only requested destination... New York to be with the Rangers...

But the only thing that comes to the HQ's mind is that St. Louis would be the leader of the new round of these guys...


In all reality... it would be an interesting change of address and success...

Chris Simpson, Kyper, and FOSG Jafar discuss...

Trade deadline should be interesting...

Guy Boucher Fired In Tampa

((HT: NHL/Sportsnet))

After starting out 6-1 in the regular season, the Tampa Bay Lightning hit the skids...

And that means that head coach Guy Boucher is no longer the head coach...

Post start, the team went 6-16-1...

"Guy has poured his heart and soul into the Lightning organization for these past three years and we appreciate all the work he has done," said GM Steve Yzerman upon making the announcement. "But ultimately I am not satisfied with the direction we are heading and I believe making a change today is in the best interest of our franchise."

The Lightning are 14th in the Eastern Conference and rumors have former Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff as the leader in the clubhouse to take over full-time. Yzerman hired Ruff as an Assistant Coach for Team Canada's 2010 Olympic Team. Assistants Martin Raymond and Dan Lacroix will share coaching responsibilities in the short-term...

Here's Boucher's last game behind the bench...