The Bolts
Highlight of my career, @torchramrod. Thanks for sharing. pic.twitter.com/7rHulbRepa
— Mike McKenna (@MikeMcKenna56) February 9, 2017
Rarely seen! https://t.co/eo5454NDKE
— Mike McKenna (@MikeMcKenna56) February 9, 2017
Check out this Fanpost: Jodi’s Puck Ponderings. If you’d like to write one too, the section is always open.
Three signs the Lightning might be poised to strike. “Without (Bishop), I don’t think we’d be able to have that confidence in ourselves and play the game we played,” wing Nikita Kucherov said. [Tampa Bay Times]
Ask Burnsie: With talent, experience Bolts have hope. Bryan Burns’ mailbag. “Although Vasilevskiy wasn’t as sharp late during Bishop’s absence, I think the experience was still good for him and the organization.” [TBL]
Can The Leafs Upgrade At 4C This Summer? “He does the things the nerds like; he does the things Babcock likes. Simply, unless you’re convinced the Leafs need to develop Gauthier in the NHL in the hopes of having a homegrown 4C in a couple years, Boyle is probably the better alternative.” [PPP]
Why the Lightning shouldn’t quit on their season yet. “Nevertheless, extreme parity puts Tampa just four points back of the Philadelphia Flyers for the second East wild-card berth. And it’s a true four points since they’ve played the same number of games.” [THN]
The League
Fatima Al Ali meets the Capitals (Photos). ‘The Washington Capitals hosted Fatima Al Ali at Kettler Capitals Iceplex on Wednesday. According to the AP’s Stephen Whyno, Al Ali called the experience the “best thing” to ever happen to her in her life.’ [RMNB] Great photo gallery here. [Capitals]
(If you haven’t been following, here’s the story of how Al Ali got to visit the Capitals.) (And here, have a lot more news about Fatima!)
The NHL has fired more coaches in the last 10 years than the NBA, NFL, or MLB. “Why does the NHL have the highest coach turnover rate over the last 10 years? A case can be made that the NHL has the best sense of parity across the four major sports, and that the turnover stems from a constant reshuffling of the deck in terms of postseason success from year to year.” [SBNation]
‘Slap Shot’ documentary celebrates iconic film. “The documentary sets out to explain why “Slap Shot,” an irreverent, counterculture movie widely panned upon its theatrical release, found its way into the hearts of several generations of hockey fans and film buffs to become one of the most beloved sports movies of all time.” [NHL]
The N.H.L.’s Problem With Science. “It now looks as if the N.H.L., which makes about $4 billion a year, has chosen to go after the science behind the brain disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or C.T.E. It’s late to this game. Even the N.F.L. — a longtime and loud naysayer that blows to the head cause C.T.E. — has acknowledged the link.” [NY Times]
Which Canadian NHL team has the best first line? “The Leafs’ top line is extremely impressive in terms of goals, but they’re struggling in terms of possession with Connor Brown on the right side after dominating with William Nylander there earlier in the year. The Jets are in a similar situation, dominating goals but not possession, and turning the puck over more than average.” [Sportsnet]
Bruins Lack Identity After Julien Firing. “But out of all the problems the B’s have faced this season, the most glaring issue is the team’s lack of identity. Firing Claude Julien only worsens that problem.” [THW]
Report: Coyotes toured arenas in Seattle and Portland. “The Arizona Coyotes are denying it, but according to the Glendale Star newspaper, representatives of the team have toured arenas in Seattle and Portland in the past three months.” [NBC Sports]
