With a prospect-heavy line-up the Tampa Bay Lightning started their 2021-22 preseason campaign against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, North Carolina. A couple of first period power play goals by Carolina proved to be the difference as the Canes emerged with a 3-1 victory. Alex Barré-Boulet scored the lone goal for the Bolts with assists from Boris Katchouk and Simon Ryfors. Maxime Legace, who will likely be the starter in net for Syracuse, made 29 saves for the Lightning. Jespari Kotkaniemi, subject of a little drama this summer, had a goal and an assist for Carolina.
ABB buries it out front to get us started!! pic.twitter.com/xai5pV3Kpi
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) September 29, 2021
It was the Lightning’s first preseason game in exactly two years (they were doing something else last September 28th) and it’s the fourth loss in their last five exhibition games. Needless to say, there is no reason for panic in the locker room because they lost to the Hurricanes. It was a game for the young players to get used to a NHL environment and for the coaches to see how they perform against skaters in different colored uniforms.
It’s good to see Katchouk and Ryfors get on the scoreboard as they are both fighting for a spot on the team. Charlie Hudon led the team with five shots while Mikhail Sergachev, one of the few veterans on the team, led them in ice time with 23:14. Daniel Walcott was out there doing Wally19 things as he led the team in hits with six.
Today will be a practice day before they host Nashville on Thursday at 7:00 PM in their first home exhibition game of the year. Expect a few more veterans to be sprinkled into the line-up for that one.
Lightning / NHL News
Last night’s goal scorer was also in the number seven slot of our Top 25 Under 25 countdown. ABB has proven all he needs to at the AHL level, now it’s time for him to do it in the NHL. [Raw Charge]
Five things from the game. [Tampa Bay Times]
It wasn’t likely that Julien BriseBois was going anywhere next summer. However, his contract was set to expire and there will likely be some openings so it was a little concerning. Well, worry no more. According to Pierre LeBrun, Mr. BriseBois is officially under contract. For how long and how much, we don’t know, but we do know he’s not going anywhere. [Twitter]
Gage Goncalves was mic’d up at the Prospect Showcase
Speaking of mics. Blog Auntie Alexandra spoke with Patrick Williams, AHL guru, about a variety of topics concerning the league and the Syracuse Crunch. [Syracuse Speaks]
Since we’re on the topic of the Crunch and podcasts, Lukas Favale spoke with former Lightning netminder Eddie Pasquale about his run in the organization. [Crunch Chronicles]
That leads to the fact that Lukas Favale is not only the play-by-play voice of the Crunch, but a back-to-back-to-back champion in his own right. The last two times he won this contest, the Bolts won Stanley Cups. Coincidence? Probably. [Twitter]
It’s National Coffee Day. Here are some ways to score some of that sweet, sweet liquid for free. [CNN]
