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Leading up to tonight's game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Washington Capitals all the buzz in the media was centered around the potential retribution Alex Ovechkin might face after his "hot stick" 50th goal celebration the last time these two teams faced off. Washington Capitals' coach Bruce Boudreau, finally fed up with answering questions about the incident, gave reporters an earful the other day, telling them the issue was dead, and essentially that everyone but the media had forgotten about it. However, despite Boudreau's protestations many felt that tonight's game had the potential to be a powder keg. Well, as it turned out, any person who attended tonight's game hoping to see a brawl was likely sadly disappointed. But those who came out to see Ovie do his thing definitely got their money's worth.

Ovechkin was once again wielding a hot stick tonight, and was named the game's 2nd star with 2 goals and 2 assists, including an empty netter late in the 3rd that salted away the 5-3 win for the Caps. Ovechkin, as has been his reputation since entering the league, did not shy away from the physical game. He was given a hard ride by Tampa's Matt Smaby, but went right back at the 6' 6" defenseman and gave back a good lick of his own.

With that game out of the way media can put the whole 50th goal celebration to bed and go back to focusing on what Ovechkin does best: put pucks in the net. Ovechkin's 4 point performance tonight gives him an even 100 for the season and pulls him to within 6 of Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin in the Art Ross Trophy race. It should provide some compelling drama down the stretch, especially with the Penguins and Capitals on a potential collision course in the first round of the playoffs. However it pans out, one thing is for sure: While the Bruce Boudreau's Caps are gearing up for the playoffs Rick Tocchet and his Tampa Bay Lightning will be dusting off the golf clubs, and by the time they face one another again all this so-called bad blood between the two teams will be long forgotten.

Habs fans everywhere are breathing a huge collective sigh of relief after a game that may just wind up being the contest that saved their centennial season.

The Canadiens dominated the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning through much of the game, outshooting them by a 2-1 margin. Their hard work translated into powerplay chances, as the Lightning players found themselves in the sin bin on 8 different occasions. However, Lightning goaltender Karri Ramo was spectacular, turning away shot after shot, keeping his team close. When Guillaume Latendresse scored on a wraparound halfway through the third period it looked like the Habs had the game sewn up. The Montreal faithful at the Bell Centre obviously thought the same as they began their traditional "Ole Ole" chant.

It turned out the celebration was a little premature as Tampa Bay roared back to tie the game 2-2, throwing the arena into stunned silence. The Habs managed to avoid a complete meltdown and hung on to force overtime. Saku Koivu was the hero in the extra frame, shoveling a backhander into the net to give his team the crucial second point.

That extra point was even more key as the Florida Panthers, breathing down Montreal's neck for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, had earned a hard fought victory over the Philadelphia Flyers earlier in the evening. With the win Montreal stays 2 points ahead of the Panthers with the Habs also possessing a game in hand.

With back to back wins perhaps the Habs can regain some of their tattered confidence. They are going to need to make some hay in the next few games as they close out their season with tough games against 4 hot teams in the Senators, Rangers, Bruins and Penguins.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are a mess at the moment, and with all the negative media attention surrounding the team at the moment regarding their poor play so far this season, and the controversy surrounding Barry Melrose's short tenure with the club, I have to think that getting one of their future stars out of that toxic environment for a short time could only be a good thing.

Steven Stamkos will be a star in this league some day, but despite showing flashes of his potential, he is clearly not there yet. Few rookies can come in at such a young age and have an immediate impact. Guys like Dale Hawerchuk, Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby have managed it, yes. But look at Joe Thornton and Vincent Lecavalier as examples of superstar players who didn't exactly light the league on fire in their respective rookie seasons.

Stamkos would have to set the league on fire from here on out to have a shot at the Calder trophy, and he doesn't look prepared to do that. Instead he will continue to toil fruitlessly, along with his teammates, on a club that looks destined to potentially finish dead last in the league.

So why didn't the Tampa Bay Lightning offer up Stamkos' services to the Canadian World Junior team? The two week, high intensity tournament would have been a great confidence booster for the young star forward. Look at the impact it had on Patrice Bergeron's game the year he went when the NHL lockout was on. Bergeron didn't snub the chance because he was already an NHL player. He seized the opportunity and was a key figure on arguably the best Canadian World Junior team ever assembled. The confidence he gained during those two short weeks was evident upon his return to the NHL next season. Stamkos could experience that same confidence boost and could turn around what has so far been a disappointing rookie campaign.

Management in Tampa Bay should take a page out of the Detroit Red Wings' handbook. The Wings develop their players slowly, and are rewarded in the end. By heaping too much on Stamkos too soon the Lightning may just be stunting his development, and will have to wait that much longer for Stamkos to reach superstardom. He is, after all, just a kid. They should have let him be a kid, and have one last shot at the childhood fun of hockey, before the business side of the game rules his life for good.