Lightning Round: Go Bucs!

The main headline of the day is obviously the 2021 Super Bowl, which will be decided between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs and by coincidence will take place at the home of the Buccaneers – Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

Tampa Bay has already reached a very impressive achievement, with all three local major league teams – the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Tampa Bay Rays and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – advancing to the championship game in the same season. Also don’t forget the Tampa Bay Rowdies, who also won the USL Championship Eastern Conference this season. Now, the Bucs have a real chance to win the second title for the city since the Lightning won the Stanley Cup last autumn.

The Lightning players are currently in Nashville, preparing for the game against the Predators and reportedly will be watching the Super Bowl in their hotel. Another interesting coincidence: Steven Stamkos is having his 31st Birthday today; what a great present it would be for him if the Bucks win the title.

Geo wrote an article, trying to find equivalents between the Bolts and the Bucks roster, there are some very fun comparisons [Raw Charge]

TE Rob Gronkowski - F Pat Maroon

Gronkowski is a big man and a big dork. It came out during the press rounds that he tricked the Bucs coaching staff during offseason workouts by recording a bunch of videos of him doing sprints in different shirts and sending them in each day instead of doing the work every day. I can also see Pat Maroon being the kind of guy to do the same and he also has a big personality. They also both will play tough, with Gronkowski being one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL.

Lightning Links

The Syracuse Crunch opened the 2020-21 regular season with a big victory over the Utica Comets. Gabriel Fortier scored twice, Peter Abbandonato added two assists.

Unfortunately the Orlando Solar Bears couldn’t keep the result after Friday’s victory against the Florida Everblades and lost to them 1-4 on Saturday’s night.

A new episode of the Recharge: Begin Again, a behind-the-scenes documentary film by the Lightning, was released yesterday.

Hockey News

Mathieu Joseph’s brother Pierre-Olivier scored his first NHL goal, but his Pittsburgh Penguins still lost to the New York Islanders.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have become the second NHL team after the New York Rangers to sign a partnership with the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA). As a part of the deal, the Leafs will provide marketing coordination and support and will host a future Secret Dream Gap Tour game.

A Derek Stepan acquisition didn’t work out well for the Ottawa Senators.

Apparently the NHL is considering moving the 2021 NHL Draft to 2022.

The Penguins have narrowed down their list for their potential general manager. According to Elliotte Friedman, the list now includes Patrik Allvin, Weekes, John Ferguson Jr., Michael Futa, Ron Hextall, Mark Hunter, Jason Karmanos and Chris MacFarland.