Martin St. Louis might well be the smallest player in the NHL, but he’s got more heart than anyone playing today. The Bolts have stepped up their game and have wiggled their way out of the bottom of the Southeastern Division of the Eastern Conference. This is no coincidence to me either that the Lightning have gone 4-2-1 since December 21 st.

That date is significant to Bolts fans because that was the day that Marty finally came out and said what we all have been thinking. St. Louis came out after a 4-3 to Atlanta and gave reporters the profanity laced tirade that they dream of getting when entering the locker room of a bad team. Marty questioned the heart of his teammates and called some “clock killers” as his frustration boiled over for the first time this season.

The great part of this was that it was little Martin St. Louis, the guy who outplays most everyone on the ice every time he suits up, with eight stitches in his face. It was spontaneous and necessary. The team seems to have responded and has played well since. Marty is not the Captain here but, in my opinion, he should be. No disrespect to Vinny here, but Lecavalier’s nonchalant attitude and playing style doesn’t translate well when you talk about being a team leader.

Vinny showed some fire when he went after Matt Cooke (who bitched out), the guy who hurt Vinny while with the Capitals last year. That was a great thing for Vinny to do, but Marty shows that kind of tenacity on a nightly basis and Vinny can’t say that. Now I’m not trying to dog out Vinny, I’m just saying that he should at least be sharing the Captain role with the guy who shows and proves every day.

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