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The Tampa Bay Lightning haven’t played a game since last Monday’s loss against the Florida Panthers at Amalie Arena in Tampa. Both of this week’s games against the Dallas Stars were postponed due a to winter storm in Texas. It was not the first time this season that games between these teams were delayed – earlier two games were moved to May because of the COVID-19 outbreak within the Dallas Stars organization.
Back on Thursday, the team had planned to go to Raleigh on Monday morning, ahead of the game with the Carolina Hurricanes. However, on Friday morning the NHL announced that the game with the Hurricanes, originally scheduled for March 28, will be played tonight at 7 p.m. ET at Raleigh. Thus the Bolts will play four consecutive games against the Canes in a six-day span.
#Bolts hockey is on tomorrow!
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) February 19, 2021
Our game originally scheduled for Sunday, March 28 in Carolina will now be played tomorrow at 7pm ET. https://t.co/os2gRl9tCo
Initially, the Hurricanes were scheduled to play against the Chicago Blackhawks this evening, but that game was cancelled and will be rescheduled for a later date, which wasn’t announced yet.
The @NHL today announced updates to the 2020-21 regular-season schedule impacting the @Canes, @TBLightning and @NHLBlackhawks. https://t.co/FK1lya8e3w pic.twitter.com/1yFqiuBk83
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 19, 2021
The Lightning are leaving for Carolina today and won’t be able to have a morning skate ahead of the game as usual. In his interview, Jon Cooper said that the team is ready travel on game day and it doesn’t matter which team they play.
On the schedule changes: “We have contingency plans for all of this. It doesn’t really matter who you’re playing.”
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) February 19, 2021
Jon Cooper: https://t.co/7FRGLfTZrv pic.twitter.com/uUpunhmXhm
Barclay Goodrow called it “the story of the season” and admitted that the team has become used to schedule changes.
“We know it’s probably going to change again. We’ll be ready to play whenever the games are scheduled.”
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) February 19, 2021
Barclay Goodrow: https://t.co/4Quirx1fl1 pic.twitter.com/DqEqyRkmNs
Lightning Links
The Orlando Solar Bears road trip ended with an overtime loss against the Florida Everblades.
We get a point tonight as the road trip comes to an end in a hard-fought battle.
— Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) February 20, 2021
We can't wait to see you tomorrow - it's been a minute, hasn't it?
: https://t.co/lvxwxTRFBb#BEARLIEVE | #ORLatFLA pic.twitter.com/y5d3ZPGmTo
Mathieu Joseph is wondering when the Lightning will get an outside game in future, too.
Wow. What an incredible view!! Can we get a game outside too please? @NHL #Jealous https://t.co/HMlTZpqJDQ
— Mathieu Joseph (@MathJoseph7) February 19, 2021
Hockey News
The first game at Lake Tahoe will be played tonight between the Colorado Avalanche and the Vegas Golden Knights.
The puck drops on #NHLOutdoors tomorrow!
— NHL (@NHL) February 19, 2021
Who are you taking: @GoldenKnights or @Avalanche?
: Saturday at 3 ET on @NHLonNBCSports and @Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/2Dt009HOKW
Can’t argue – this is a beautiful view.
It's happening!! #NHLOutdoors at Lake Tahoe begins at 3 ET this Saturday on @NHLonNBCSports and @Sportsnet.
— NHL (@NHL) February 18, 2021
( @cotsonika) pic.twitter.com/Q7IxzCioeY
Rasmus Ristolainen shared some details from his process of recovering from COVID-19 and it sounds scary what this virus can cause even to a professional athlete.
This is scary stuff for Ristolainen https://t.co/NpvpA81XNs pic.twitter.com/OkboJPv4Fo
— Chad DeDominicis (@CMDeDominicis) February 19, 2021
Despite a poor start of the regular season, the Nashville Predators owners not planning to fire David Poile, the team’s general manager.
The owners of the Predators are "angry and confused" about their start to the season, CEO Sean Henry told The Athletic in a Q&A published this week, but they are not planning to fire general manager David Poile.https://t.co/qMyspQUYTj
— NHL.com (@NHLdotcom) February 19, 2021