The great raid of Norfolk; Lightning versus Columbus Blue Jackets preview
by John Fontana on Jan 24, 2012 1:00 PM EST
in '11-'12 game previews
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It's fitting that the Lightning end the first half of the NHL season with a showdown with the Union Army and the Columbus Blue Jackets. Why fitting? Because the Bolts have sacked and raided the Confederate stronghold of Norfolk over the past few weeks. Oh, they have good reason to have done it (with injuries, injuries, and more injuries to the Tampa Bay Lightning roster) but ... well, Ads fans can't be too happy with that.
Dana Tyrell, J.T. Wyman, Pierre-Cedric Labrie, Trevor Smith, Evan "Yo-Yo" Oberg, and now Mike Angelidis have all been recalled at one point or another for the Bolts. Angelidis and Oberg were both formally recalled this morning (with Evan having been sent back to Norfolk immediately following the Lightning's victory in Phoenix on Saturday night). While recalls have happened, and have had to happen, the Admirals can and should be feeling the crunch from losing key players off their roster.
With 42 games played in their season, the Ads are a scant few percentage points behind the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Hershey Bears In the Eastern Division standings. They're seeded sixth in the AHL Eastern Conference.
While Bolts fans have been desperate to see the likes of forward Carter Ashton, defenseman Radko Gudas and goalie Dustin Tokarski in Tampa Bay Lightning uniforms, those players (and others like Mark Barberio, Cory Conacher, and Jaroslav Janus) are integral in keeping the Admirals afloat and in contention in their own playoff race. While we're used to the Lightning focusing on the NHL team and nothing else, the current Lightning brain trust want to develop a winner at all levels.
So while the great raid of Norfolk has occurred, don't expect it to last or go further. As players like Ryan Malone, Ryan Shannon, Marc-Andre Bergeron, Victor Hedman, Tom Pyatt, Tyrell, Adam Hall and (maybe even) Mattias Ohlund heal and return to the Lightning lineup, the likes of Wyman, Smith, Labrie, Oberg and Angelidis will go back to Norfolk to help with the playoff push and vying for the Calder Cup (the AHL's championship trophy).
The Bolts are in the midst of unfamiliar territory this season. For the uninitiated, Tampa Bay having won three (3) games in a row are on what is known as a "winning streak". That means they have won several games in succession, or consecutively.
Yes, I'm being sarcastic.
The Bolts, hosting the league cellar-dwelling Blue Jackets, look to close out the first half of the season with their longest winning streak of the year. That's right, Tampa Bay hasn't won four in a row all season.
Of course, they're doing it with an injury-depleted roster, as I noted above. Angelidis was promoted because Tyrell is back on the shelf. Evan Oberg is back in Tampa because Bergeron is not ready to return to the lineup.
For th Blue Jackets, there has been a change since the two teams squared off last month. Coach Scott Arniel was given up on by Columbus management and fired on January 9th. Todd Richards took over, and the Jackets are 2-4-1 since then. Tonight, they're playing the flip-side of back-to-back games; they were in Nashville last night and lost to the Predators.
There is danger in this game if the Bolts are thinking ahead to the 6 day layoff after this game. The majority of the Tampa Bay Lightning get to rest and heal until next Tuesday (a home date with the Washington Capitals) while Steven Stamkos gets to pack his bags for Ottawa, Ontario, and the 2012 NHL All-Star game. The league's leading scorer is Tampa Bay's lone representative in this year's game.
The good news from the morning skate is that Victor Hedman practiced with the team, albeit with a red, no-contact, jersey. That's a bit of positive news. The Bolts have been without Hedman since he was concussed on December 27th, 2011. Victor needs to work on his conditioning, but he told local reporters that he has hopes to play next week when the season resumes against the Capitals.
Mathieu Garon gets the start in goal for the Lightning tonight. He was the goalie of record in the Bolts win against Columbus from December (a 3-2 victory).
Last, and certainly not least, is Erik Erlendsson reporting that Evan Oberg may very well be making his NHL season debut tonight. That's right, the myth of Evan Oberg may be coming to a close, but the legend will live on forever! (Note: It's confirmed by the team now, Evan Oberg will play tonight)
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You know what would be fun?
If, when the Lightning are completely eliminated from playoff contention, the team sends Hedman to Norfolk to assist in their Calder Cup run. Their blueline could certainly use the help, and Hedman would dominate.
It won’t happen, but the fantasy of it brought a smile to my face.
"Freedom is the freedom to say two plus two equals four. If that is granted all else will follow."
- Smith in Orwell's 1984
I can understand that. I think Hedman’s even on the last year of a two-way contract right now, too. That can’t beat my Patrick Roy coaching the Caps next year fantasy, tho. :oD
"You don't have enough talent to win on talent alone." -Herb Brooks
Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community. Follow me on Twitter: @dagmar27.
by Cassie McClellan on Jan 24, 2012 1:48 PM EST up reply actions
This makes me curious
Alex Killorn is Lightning property. He’s a senior at Harvard. When the Harvard season is over… Can he be signed to a PTO with the Ads (much like the junior level prospects can)?
The more I think about it, he would not be able to play in the AHL playoffs unless he is included on the Norfolk roster that is submitted before games begin (which is why Hedman won’t be playing for the Ads, I don’t think).
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Sasquatch, Yeti, The Loch Ness Monster, Evan Oberg - legends that may or may not be real
Raw Charge.
by John Fontana on Jan 24, 2012 3:23 PM EST up reply actions
I thought the roster was submitted at a later date—I seem to remember Yzerman/BriseBois submitting the roster last year around March, but I could be wrong.
"Freedom is the freedom to say two plus two equals four. If that is granted all else will follow."
- Smith in Orwell's 1984
Confirmed.
Last year, according to the WBS fish-wrap, the AHL playoff roster cutoff date was 10th March.
Thanks, Bing!
"Freedom is the freedom to say two plus two equals four. If that is granted all else will follow."
- Smith in Orwell's 1984
If there are any post-season games for the Crimson, then that should actually pencil him out.
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Sasquatch, Yeti, The Loch Ness Monster, Evan Oberg - legends that may or may not be real
Raw Charge.
by John Fontana on Jan 24, 2012 4:13 PM EST up reply actions
Brett Connolly can play for the Ads in the Calder Cup playoffs
TSNBobMcKenzie Bob McKenzie
por BoltProspects
If Connolly finishes NHL season with TBL, and Bolts miss playoffs (as expected), he can be assigned to Norfolk for AHL playoffs.
Ads fans may be mad at the Bolts now, but a reparation appears in the horizon!
Following the Lightning from Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
Let's. Go. BOLTS!
by Rafael Amarante on Jan 24, 2012 5:27 PM EST up reply actions
There is also a chance Connolly, instead of goigng to AHL Norfolk, will be sent back to his junior team (the Tri-City Americans). I like the idea of him going to Norfolk more, however.
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Sasquatch, Yeti, The Loch Ness Monster, Evan Oberg - legends that may or may not be real
Raw Charge.
by John Fontana on Jan 24, 2012 6:38 PM EST up reply actions
Me too.
Following the Lightning from Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
Let's. Go. BOLTS!
by Rafael Amarante on Jan 24, 2012 6:40 PM EST up reply actions
This.
Though it’s a surprise. Thought all under-agers could only play for the NHL team or their major junior team.
Learn sumpin’ new every day, I s’pose.
"Freedom is the freedom to say two plus two equals four. If that is granted all else will follow."
- Smith in Orwell's 1984
I know that, if a player’s junior team is eliminated from playoff contention in the CHL, they can sign a deal with the AHL affiliate of their NHL club. Panik, Ashton… They both did this in previous years.
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Sasquatch, Yeti, The Loch Ness Monster, Evan Oberg - legends that may or may not be real
Raw Charge.
by John Fontana on Jan 25, 2012 10:20 AM EST up reply actions
I know Ashton did last year…but didn’t know about Panik. I thought he just recently signed a contract with the Bolts.
"Freedom is the freedom to say two plus two equals four. If that is granted all else will follow."
- Smith in Orwell's 1984
A contract with the affiliate has nothing to do with them signing with the Lightning. They are Lightning property unless not signed by X date.
Therefore they could sign with the Tampa Bay AHL Affiliate on a tryout basis.
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Sasquatch, Yeti, The Loch Ness Monster, Evan Oberg - legends that may or may not be real
Raw Charge.
by John Fontana on Jan 29, 2012 6:14 PM EST up reply actions
I can’t find the actual rule on the NHL’s site, but the Hurricanes’ website says this:
“…through an agreement between with CHL and the NHL, a player under the age of 20 cannot play in the AHL.”
"You don't have enough talent to win on talent alone." -Herb Brooks
Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community. Follow me on Twitter: @dagmar27.
by Cassie McClellan on Jan 25, 2012 10:30 AM EST up reply actions
Two things--well three, actually.
1. Derek Dorsett slew footed Ryan Ellis last night and there wasn’t a call. I would like to see Derek Dorsett experience some…ahem….difficulties tonight.
2. Don’t expect this to be a guaranteed two points. Expect the boys to have to earn it. And on that note,
3. Steve Mason played last night, so Sanford will probably play tonight. The difference between Mason and Sanford is that Sanford can actually stop pucks sometimes (.914 and 2.51, which is better than Garon’s numbers).
R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
"You don’t motivate people; you activate something in them that already exists." -Guy Boucher
Thanks for that vote of confidence. :-)
"Freedom is the freedom to say two plus two equals four. If that is granted all else will follow."
- Smith in Orwell's 1984
That's a good point
I like to be optimistic to a fault, but all things considered, games like this scare me more than playing a Boston or Vancouver or New York.
by Clark Brooks on Jan 24, 2012 3:54 PM EST up reply actions
As iffy as the Bolts’ goaltending this year, at least we didn’t grossly overpay for their poor performance. Thanks for making us feel better, Philly—and thanks for the link, Dani.
"Freedom is the freedom to say two plus two equals four. If that is granted all else will follow."
- Smith in Orwell's 1984
Victor Hedman won’t be sent to Norfolk for the playoffs. He’s over 160 NHL games which makes him eligible for waivers. Clearly he’d be lost if waived.
Connolly however is exempt from waivers and would benefit greatly from an AHL post season run! He can be waived without incident.
All ELCs are two-way contracts.
"Freedom is the freedom to say two plus two equals four. If that is granted all else will follow."
- Smith in Orwell's 1984
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