Quick Strikes for Saturday, March 14

Injuries are mounting for the Tampa Bay Lightning, you know this. Yet the return of one key to the lineup is imminent. Matt Carle could be back in the lineup as soon as tonight versus the Jets. [Tampabay.com]
“We have that confidence that no matter what situation you’re in, your team is going to find a way to win…We’re starting to feel that. It takes a while before you can build that up throughout the season. That’s what championship teams do, they play well down the stretch and have confidence heading into the playoffs.” –Steven Stamkos. [Tampabay.com]
With the Lightning in town, Boston press got a chance to ask key figures with Tampa Bay about new Bruins acquisition Brett Connolly. Head coach Jon Cooper, when asked about Connolly, heaped praise upon the forward. [Boston Globe]
Our own Clark Brooks was talking Lightning hockey Friday on 1010-AM here in Tampa Bay. [Rocket Sports and Entertainment]
NHL general managers meet next week in their annual springtime meetings and video review will be part of the itinerary for discussion. Elliotte Friedman gives the for-and-against arguments in brief in his larger weekly 30 Thoughts column. [Sportsnet]
GM Doug Murray had a question-and-answer session on Friday in San Jose with Sharks season ticket holders. About 350 ticket holders got to ask Murray a wide variety of topics including about the testy stripping of Joe Thornton of the Sharks captaincy. The curtain was drawn back; it was all blown out of proportion, not so bad! [SJ Mercury News]
…and led to Joe Thornton getting outright pissed off at GM Doug Murray in remarks, “All I’ve got to say is I’ve been here every day working hard. I haven’t taken a sabbatical. He just needs to stop lying, shut his mouth.” Buckle up, kids, it’s gonna be an interesting ride in San Jose in the offseason. [SJ Mercury News]
It’s been a while since hockey reporting pointed to bad stuff in Arizona that compounded the notion the Coyotes weren’t going to last long in the desert. Yeah… About that. Financial reports aren’t rosy for IceArizona. [Five for Howling]
Forget finances. You want a play example of “not rosy”? The Toronto Maple Leafs and their tank effort have you covered (helped along by the Calgary Flames excellence in aggravating stats people by way of numbers defying luck). [CBS Sports]
Talking logistics and the NHL usually doesn’t go much further than scheduling talk. Yet, just what does it take to move a hockey team across the country? [Eyes on the Prize]
As was mentioned yesterday in Quick Strikes, Winnipeg is once again going to host an AHL franchise after the announced relocation of the current Ice Caps franchise from St. John to the ‘Peg. There’s optimism about the move coming from Winnipeg itself. [Arctic Ice Hockey]

Talking Points