Quick Strikes: Lightning’s Christmas gift is the time to heal

The Bolts

The Lightning are limping into the holiday break. [Tampa Bay Times]

So their four-day break should do wonders. [Tampa Bay Times]

Dave Mishkin’s take on the 4-0 loss to Washington. [NHL.com.Lightning]

WJC

2017 World Junior hockey tournament preview. “The WJC starts Boxing Day. There are Maple Leafs prospects and draft-eligible stars to watch, so get ready for some fun hockey.” [Pension Plan Puppets]

In World Junior action, Team Canada won but the Swiss team have exposed some holes, especially in the defense. [The Canadian Press]

The League

Postgame, the Capitals showed off their matching TJ Oshie shirts for the guy’s 30th birthday.

Former Bolt Steve Downie let it all out on Twitter, mostly ripping on the Coyotes, the NHL and Don Cherry, and also expressing remorse for the way he played the game. There’s a saying that goes “Don’t hate the player... hate the game.”

The fan guide to watching your team go bad, like lowering your expectations and lowering them again. [Winging It in Motown]

The Blue Jackets’ 12th straight win “matches the longest winning streak in the NHL over the last three-plus seasons. The longest win streak in NHL history is 17 games by the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins.” [Columbus Dispatch]

Chasing that record? The Minnesota Wild, who won their 10th straight. [Star Tribune]

Wild coach Bruce Boudreau wins a lot.

10 things about the Flyers’ 4-0 loss to the Devils. [Broadstreet Hockey]

Forever a Coyote Shane Doan’s 400th goal in his 1,500th game.

Gene Principe and a snarky Sharkie in the holiday spirit.

Speaking of holiday spirit...

The Game

Anya Battaglino’s account on breaking it to her hockey family about salary cuts. [The Ice Garden]