Quick Strikes for Thursday, May 7

First off, I’d like to wish a very happy birthday to our own Allokago! Her Syracuse Crunch may be done for the season, but some of the players are up as black aces with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Go wish her a happy birthday on Twitter, if you’re on there: @Allovimo.
This is a nice little feature on Alex Killorn and how him getting an education was important to his parents. [Montreal Gazette]
No one on the Montreal side of things is saying this, but this Lightning blogger believes that the Montreal Canadiens are embracing the role of villain. But, now I’m confused. I thought the role of villain for every playoff series were the on-ice officials? [en-Lightning NHL Perspective]
What do you get when you have a local pastor with a passion for Lightning hockey? Some amazingly awesome church signs – that are real. And you may also get a bit of hockey talk in with your Sunday sermon, too. [WFTS]
The Bolts’ 19th overall pick in last year’s draft, defenseman Anthony DeAngelo, was named the OHL’s Defenseman of the Year. [Soo Greyhounds]
Former Lightning head coach Guy Boucher has reportedly been contacted by the Toronto Maple Leafs to interview for their vacant head coaching position. You may remember that Boucher left for Europe to go coach in the Swiss league. [Maple Leafs Hot Stove]
Has Martin St. Louis’s age finally caught up to him? Or does is he simply not a good fit for the New York Rangers? Whatever the case, He hasn’t played well for them this year – not even in playoffs thus far. [The Hockey News]
The Chicago Blackhawks have put their regular season past behind them, and only care about the playoff road ahead. Which is apparently what they think every year. Well, if it wins them Cups, I guess that’s alright. [Chicago Sun-Times]
The Boston Bruins are in the midst of an identity crisis, and some believe that former general manager Peter Chiarelli’s assistants shouldn’t be trusted in taking over his job. Especially, apparently, Don Sweeney. Former players rarely make good general managers, so while I don’t have anything to say about Sweeney specifically, that’d be my only real concern. (Steve Yzerman is a notable exception to that rule, of course.) [Days of Y’Orr]
As you may have heard, Lou Lamoriello has stepped down from the general manager position with the New Jersey Devils and has hired former Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ray Shero. But some wonder if he’s the right fit for that organization. I guess we’ll see when he decides on a new head coach? [The Pink Puck]

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