After being snubbed for player of the month honors in February, Andrei Vasilevskiy kicked off March with First Star of the Week honors. The Lightning netminder went 3-0 and stopped 71-of-73 shots over the previous seven days, helping Tampa Bay solidify their spot in the playoff race. He also posted his 38th career shutout and had a personal ten-game points streak. Not too bad for the former Vezina Trophy winner.
Dallas’ Roope Hintz and Montreal’s Nick Suzuki were the other two Stars of the Week. Congratulations everyone!
Lightning News
Lightning drop game to Panthers, 2-1 [Raw Charge]
All streaks end at some point, and for the Lightning that point came in Sunrise as Sasha Barkov’s two goals proved to be the difference.
Increased confidence, offensive ability showing for Goncalves [Tampa Bay Lightning]
He’ll have bad games and good games, but Gage Goncalves is starting to show the Lightning what he can do in the NHL. With seven points in his last ten games, the confidence is coming for the 24-year-old.
Nothing is off the table for Julien BriseBois [The Hockey Writers]
After spending all season clipping coupons and saving as much cap space as he could, Julien BriseBois has the chance to solidify the Lightning’s line-up for another playoff push. We’ll see how creative he gets over the next few days.
Hockey News
Here is your random hockey fact of the day.
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Blue Jackets close to long-term deal with Mathieu Olivier [The Athletic]
At one point earlier this season, Olivier was likely on the trade block for Columbus. However, the 28-year-old has endeared himself to Blue Jackets fans, and apparently the ownership group. It appears that he has earned a multi-year deal after putting up a career season with 12 goals and 9 assists while earning the reputation as one of the league’s toughest fighters.
Capitals re-sign Charlie Lindgren [Japers’ Rink]
One deal that is already finalized is an extension for Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren. Washington locked up the other half of their backstop duo, signing him for three more seasons at $3 million per season. Paired up with Logan Thompson, the Eastern Conference leaders have their 1A and 1B netminders signed for the next three years for a combined $8.5 million. Not a bad bit of work.
Six deals we want to see before Friday [ESPN]
The Bolts get a mention in this thought-experiment by the folks at ESPN. In their world the Lightning pull off a three-team trade that lands them Yanni Gourde and J.J. Peterka with Cameron Atkinson and a third-round pick going to Seattle, and Gage Goncalves, Nick Perbix, a first-round pick, and a second-round pick going to Buffalo. That would definitely be a Julien BriseBois-esque deal.
What we’re hearing about every team heading into Deadline Week [The Athletic]
Nothing really new about the Lightning in their brief report. They speculate that a depth defenseman could be added, and Yanni Gourde’s name creeps up again.
Utah signs Olli Maata to three-year deal [KSL News]
The veteran defenseman is staying in the Beehive State. Maata’s new deal will pay him $3.5 million per season.
