ICYMI
Lightning get complete effort, beat Islanders 4-1
The Bolts
With the assist on Kucherov’s goal, Victor Hedman now ranks first place all-time for assists by a #Bolts defenseman.
Congrats, @heds77! ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/NldAMBjUDp
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) November 11, 2016
Yay!
Last night was military appreciation night at Amalie Arena, and a group of military personnel helped cheer the team out onto the ice. There was an excellent pre-game ceremony built around the anthem, and during first intermission, a group of new recruits were sworn in.
Game on ⚡️ #NYIvsTBL pic.twitter.com/JzTCrsJlFV
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) November 11, 2016
There were so many nice power play goals that it seems like a ridiculous embarrassment of riches. Stop being so good, damnit! Okay, don’t stop being so good.
His shot. It’s a beauty. #NYIvsTBL pic.twitter.com/8fIysSxbZH
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) November 11, 2016
Johnny starts it, Johnny finishes it. #NYIvsTBL pic.twitter.com/OJfDDyG331
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) November 11, 2016
Learn more about what the team did to honor the military last night. “Through the Lightning’s Seats for Service program, the team’s fans and partners donate 2,500 tickets for service members and their family for the Islanders game and future games.” [Patches.com]
“The fast start that coach Jon Cooper and his players have been talking about since the beginning of the season made a rare appearance Thursday with a two-goal first period during the Lightning’s 4-1 victory against the visiting Islanders.” [Tampa Bay Times] And here’s the gamer by Joe. [Tampa Bay Times]
Bolts won the game against the Islanders, 4-1, but they did so on the strength of power play goals. What’s going on? Jon Cooper says, bad luck. “I think we’re a little unlucky early in the year,” Cooper said. “Some of the goals that went in on us, (pucks hit) stanchions, Zamboni doors, pucks we’ve put in ourselves, that really added up and hurt our 5-on-5 numbers, if you will.” [Tampa Bay Times]
So. About those power play goals. “So what accounts for the Bolts’ special teams being so, well, special to start 2016-17? Are they spending more time in practice on special teams? During Wednesday’s practice session ahead of the game against the Islanders, the Lightning used a sizable portion of their time drilling power-play and penalty-kill work.” [Bryan Burns for NHL.com]
Here’s TSN’s recap of the game. Somehow they didn’t mention that John Tavares’ contract is up soon. [TSN]
There’s been a lot of buzz lately about the junior hockey prospects in our system. Not only did Tom write a great piece for Raw Charge about it [here], but the news has also hit Sportsnet. Here is a piece Mitchell Stephens being the OHL team captain in the Canada-Russia series. [Sportsnet]
Here’s a video of Stephens introducing his alternates, two other Tampa Bay Lightning prospects, Anthony Cirelli and Matt Spencer. [CHLCanadaRussia.ca]
The League
Interview with Gabriel Landeskog. “Between a class-action lawsuit to help former players to better injury protocol on the ice, there are many ways NHL players are working to increase awareness about concussions and head injuries.” [Sports Illustrated]
The kids continue to be all right this season, including Harvard graduate Jimmy Vesey. [NY Post]
Speaking of kids, Connor McDavid is being annointed Sidney Crosby’s heir already. [CBS Sports]
And McDavid’s team in Edmonton is being called “the story of the season” for winning so much. [ESPN]
Earlier yesterday, Oliver Ekman-Larsson was fined 2,000 for diving during a game against the Nashville Predators. [Puck Daddy]
Which coach do you think gets fired first? [Toronto Sun]
Happy Friday, and our respect and thanks to veterans on this day!
