Wearing his Tampa Bay Lightning jersey and leaning on a hockey stick, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn says he's ready for another Lightning playoff berth. And so is the Bay Area.
"The Lightning blue literally courses through our veins, now," said Buckhorn.
As has become a yearly event this time of year, Buckhorn and former Lightning Captain Dave Andrechuk take the ladder truck bucket trip towards the top of Tampa City Hall to unfurl a giant "Go Bolts!" banner.
Andrechuck believes the team is ready for the long haul...a "marathon" as he puts it.
It's been nearly 14 years since the Lightning won the Stanley Cup, which was hoisted by Andrechuck in 2004.
The Bolts play the New Jersey Devils at Amalie Arena Thursday night and Saturday afternoon. You can hear both games live on 970 WFLA. On Thursday, tune in to 970's coverage beginning with a pre-game show at 6 p.m. for the 7 o'clock face-off.