The recovery timeline for Andrei Vasilevskiy’s fractured left foot was revealed yesterday, and it isn’t quite as bad as many of us probably figured it was going to be. The Tampa Bay Lightning’s #1 goalie is expected to be out 4-6 weeks while recovering from the injury.
Vasilevskiy has already missed one game and at a minimum looks to be missing at least 13 more games if he returns exactly four weeks from the injury. The further end of the return timeline means missing a total of 19 games including last night’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Thursday night was the team’s first game since Vasy’s injury, and although things didn’t go spectacularly well, a win is a win.
Last night’s winfographic. ⚡️#TBLvsPIT | #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/NgczMihT5J
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) November 16, 2018
On his natural hat trick being one of the fastest in NHL history: “They told me after the game. That’s pretty cool. Obviously just a couple 5-on-3 situations, you’re going to get put out in those spots and guys found me. It’s pretty cool.”#TBLvsPIT | Brayden Point: pic.twitter.com/BnVxi4e9ir
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) November 16, 2018
On the 5-on-3s: “That’s a huge momentum swing in a game. You go from being down 2-0 a minute and a half ago in the time of the game and then you’re up 3-2. Big goals by the power play.”#TBLvsPiT | Steven Stamkos: pic.twitter.com/F5bbzh5hao
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) November 16, 2018
In more news from that game, it was revealed yesterday that Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cullen has been fined $1,000 for a dangerous trip on J.T. Miller.
Tampa moves on to Philadelphia today, and in anticipation of the game, Broad Street Hockey talked to our very own Matt Esteves about Vasy’s injury, the Lightning’s forwards, and other topics.
Are fans too hard on Alex Killorn? Geo says yes, and he has the facts and figures to back it up:
I often challenge fans that think Killorn is way overpaid to find an unrestricted free agent signing that produces more at his cap hit or produces the same for less. Rarely do I get an answer. That’s because in reality, his cap hit is commensurate with a player that consistently scores around the half-point per game mark.
Syracuse received some great news yesterday: forward Michael Bournvial cleared waivers and was immediately assigned to Syracuse. Bournival had been recovering from surgery, and Crunch fans have been eagerly awaiting his return. Waivers and assignment was one of the final hurtles to seeing him back out on the ice at the old War Memorial.
The Crunch’s Hockey Fights Cancer game is tonight, and it will feature lavender jerseys for the first time in its history. The jerseys are gorgeous, and will be auctioned off in several different ways to raise money for the Upstate Cancer Center.
We’re holding a postgame jersey auction on the ice following our #HockeyFightsCancer game tomorrow night.
Join us in Sections 102-103 to help raise funds for @UpstateCancer. 💜 pic.twitter.com/MRtwpK4uk8
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) November 16, 2018
The Crunch has gotten into a groove, and as of yesterday were on the second-longest league-wide points streak. Those points are due in part to rookie Taylor Raddysh, who is impressing many at this level already. They’re also due to Cory Conacher, whose last-second goal in Rochester this past week was featured by the AHL:
Before you tune in to watch tonight’s AHL action, check out the last second buzzer-beaters, breathtaking breakaways and more from last week’s #AHLTV Plays of the Week. pic.twitter.com/uQ3wJLYzRK
— AHL (@TheAHL) November 16, 2018
Those local to the Syracuse area can meet Hubert Labrie, Alex Volkov and Mitchell Stephens this Monday.
Marshall Webster was recognized by the Crunch last weekend both as a veteran and as someone who just loves the game. Here’s more of his story:
I want you to meet my new friend Marshall. He plays hockey twice a week. Oh, did I mention he’s 95 years old? https://t.co/U8nOXjCLR6
— Brent Axe (@BrentAxeMedia) November 16, 2018
The Tampa International Airport got down on some TampaCuse love yesterday. Just look at the middle tier of that cake!
Just yesterday and today, we kicked off FIVE new routes on @FlyFrontier! Full with cake, cupcakes, giveaways, live music and plenty of happy passengers, we celebrated inaugural routes to @CLTAirport, @portlandjetport, @FlyGRFord @SyracuseAirport and @GSPAirport. pic.twitter.com/fkws3VMEhh
— Tampa Intl Airport ✈️ (@FlyTPA) November 16, 2018
In the NHL, the New York Rangers acquired Ryan Strome from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Ryan Spooner yesterday. Joseph Fortunato at Blue Shirt Banter seems to think it might be a new start trade for each of players. I think, anyway. It’s kind of hard to tell.
Strome has skated in 18 games with Edmonton this year posting just two points. That said, Edmonton is a mess so there’s a lot to unpack there.
Spooner was off to a horrendous start to the year, and the Rangers probably saw Strome — who scored 50 points for the Islanders in 2014-2015 — as a reclamation project they could work with. This doesn’t do much to shake up the logjam of forwards in New York, but I would have to assume there’s more coming as we go along this year.
Buffalo Sabres prospect Rasmus Asplund is doing everything right for the Rochester Americans, and hopes that eventually those things will start showing up on the the score sheet.
The RIT women’s hockey club is holding their Pride Night tonight.
Emerance Maschmeyer of the CWHL is playing well and getting noticed for all the right things.
Hayley Wickenheiser has been deemed eligible for 2019 induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame this June.
