Things are looking up for Tampa Bay as Stamkos looks to build on career year last season

Ever since that faithful season, the Lightning have only been to the post-season two times and have been ousted in the first round both times. Then things began to get worse... the Lightning went from a playoff team to a 31-win team and then to a league-worst 24 wins.
But then something changed... a 19-year old kid from Markham, Ontario emerged onto the scene and changed the face of the Lightning face once again. Steven Stamkos made the NHL take notice and he lived up to his hype by producing a 95 point season, which included 51 goals and 44 assists.
Just like that, even though the Lightning didn't make the playoffs, they improved their wins by 10 up to 34 wins on the season. Lightning fans knew they had something special in Stamkos, and the 2010-2011 season for Tampa Bay fans couldn't arrive sooner.
With the emergence of Stamkos, a possible breakout year from Victor Hedman, and led by a core of veterans including captain Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis and new addition Simon Gagne, the Lightning's future might be looking a bit brighter coming into the new season.
The pre-season hype has been monumental for the Lightning, as the fans feel that this team could challenge the Washington Capitals for the Southeast Division.
With the first pre-season game against the Florida Panthers coming in a few days, the excitement and the wait for Lightning hockey will be finally over. The league, the fans and everyone wants to see how this Tampa Bay Lightning team will do this season... will it be another sub-par year and the hype will be too big... or will the Lightning succeed and make it back to the playoffs?
The journey starts September 20th, 2010 and we hope you all can join us and ride along for a hopeful long, but successful season of Tampa Bay Lightning hockey!
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