Quick Strikes for Saturday, January 2, 2016

• To all of our readers, here’s wishing you a happy and safe 2016!
• Lyle Richardson has a “wish list” for all 30 NHL clubs in 2016. For the Tampa Bay Lightning, it’s wishing for the Steven Stamkos contract situation to be sorted out. [Spector’s Hockey]
• Defenseman Andrej Sustr’s contribution is growing for the Lightning as his skill evolves. Want a sign of evolution? His 9 points this season (1 goal, 8 assists) in 36 games is 4 shy of his total (13) scored last season. [Lightning Shout]
• In case you missed it, Ben Bishop has tweaked his Tron themed goaltender mask. [InGoal Magazine]
• But speaking of Bishop – he left New Years Day practice 10 minutes early. Head coach Jon Cooper called it a precautionary measure. [Tampa Tribune]
• I do not believe this is tied to Bishop’s status but the Lightning recalled Andrei Vasilevskiy from Syracuse on Friday and sent down Kristers Gudlevskis. [Tampa Bay Lightning]
• In overall notes by Erik Erlendsson: The power play has gained potency while the 5-on-5 has weakened; Steven Stamkos was one of the highest goal scorers in the past calendar year, and other team fodder. [Tampa Tribune]
• Meanwhile, in the AHL: Syracuse: The Crunch closed out 2015 with a victory over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. [Bolt Prospects]
• We’re always looking for new contributors at Raw Charge. Even if you’re not interested in being part of staff, there’s always the FanPost area for blogging about the Bolts. [Raw Charge]
• One of the Vancouver Canucks was fined for diving during the pre-Christmas game against the Lightning at Amalie Arena. [Canucks Army]
• The Washington Post ran a series reflecting on 2015’s impact players in sports. For hockey, that individual was in the spotlight for reason other than his game and hasn’t exactly reflected well on the NHL as a whole. That player is Patrick Kane. [Washington Post]
• Recapping and reviewing 2015 in the crease and between the pipes. The year that was for goaltending. [InGoal Magazine]
• Congratulations to our friends over at Pension Plan Puppets for being named hockey blog of the year by Yahoo! sports Puck Daddy. [Puck Daddy]
• Last week we linked over to an article on Canucks Army putting down the idea of “tank time” – a deliberate throw-in-the-towel-for-draft-position by the Vancouver Canucks. Now we have another blog for another team – the Winnipeg Jets – contemplating a tanking of the club. [Arctic Ice Hockey]
• The Bolts opponent tonight is the Minnesota Wild, who closed out 2015 with a victory over the St. Louis Blues. [Hockey Wilderness]
• The winds of change blow in Sunrise as the Florida Panthers contend for a division title instead of also-ran status. [Litter Box Cats]
• While the fortunes for the team change, one thing that will remain the same in Sunrise is Dale Tallon. He was signed to a three-year contract extension. [Litter Box Cats]
• The 2016 NHL Winter Classic was dominated by Le Bleu, Blanc et Rouge. Here’s the Canadiens side recapping the game. [Eyes on the Prize]
• How about a third-party’s take on things? [SB Nation]
• And now the Boston Bruins angle – it’s not a single recap article but a StoryStream of coverage from the event. [Stanley Cup of Chowder]
• When NFL coaches and hockey rinks cross paths. [SB Nation]
• Blake Bolden had a pretty solid impact on the Women’s Outdoor Classic. [Color of Hockey]
• The New Years Eve game between the CWHL and NWHL was a first step toward something bigger for the women’s hockey leagues. [Blueshirt Banter]
• Connor McDavid returned to practice with the Edmonton Oilers and you can either be amazed by this or concerned that McDavid is being rushed back from a serious injury. [ESPN]
• There aren’t many trades that have happened at the NHL level. One of note at the junior level has transpired between the Oshawa Generals and Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL. [Lighthouse Hockey]

How often do you check opposing team websites on game day?