Lightning Round: JJ is Tampa Bay’s Player of the October

The Tampa Bay Lightning named Jonas Johansson as the team’s Player of the Month for October after consecutive shutouts and a .922 save percentage in the month. He leads the NHL in shutouts and saves. At a time when the roster in front of him isn’t up to their standard, he’s kept them in games and winning games.

And here are some of JJ’s best saves.

Justin recapped the first 10 games for the Bolts. Talking about the skaters, JJ, and what might be expected over the next 72 games. It’s a long season.

Dave Mishkin also recapped where the Lightning sit after the first month of games and where they need to be to get into the playoffs.

Mishkin’s Musings: On 12-in-10 and road woes | Tampa Bay Lightning

Radio broadcaster Dave Mishkin takes a look at Tampa Bay’s point pace and struggles away from home

There’s a growing tide in hockey to implement neck guards for player safety. Minor hockey teams, like in Pittsburgh’s organization, have already mandated them.

Growlers head coach welcomes protective neck gear in wake pro hockey player death

Former Pittsburgh Penguin Adam Johnson died Saturday, after his neck was cut with a skate blade while playing hockey overseas. The Penguins’ AHL and ECHL teams are mandating protective neck guards following the incident. Newfoundland Growlers head Coach Matt Cooke commends the swift action.

Here are some of the best goalie masks this season!

Ranking the NHL’s 12 Best Goalie Mask Designs for 2023-24

Sometimes rankings seem like a breeze and the final numbers feel pretty unassailable. Like ranking Connor McDavid as the best player in the league. But…

A true buzzer beater, even if the clock was broken on the broadcast (oh, AHL).

Western University in Canada’s women’s hockey team is demanding to be heard by their school officials after allegations of misconduct by the head coach. More from Rick Westhead at TSN.

Western women’s hockey team plans boycott over returning coach | TSN

Players tell school president they will boycott all practices and games if head coach Candice Moxley continues in her role following a third-party investigation into allegations of misconduct.

This really interesting article from soccer discusses the amazing benefits and dangers of explosive, exponential popularity in sports. On women’s soccer (NWSL and Int’l) out-growing the small communities they built the sport on.

The Matildas are entering their Swift Era, so what does that mean for them and for us?

Packed stadiums, paparazzi photos, and signs begging for jerseys: Like Taylor Swift, the Matildas have become superstars. So what does it mean going forward, asks Samantha Lewis.