Puck drops at 9pm tonight!
(Pro tip: Drink lots of ☕️)
Preview » https://t.co/O0HmzsLsAt pic.twitter.com/2uyv59e2EF
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) January 17, 2017
@FlaPanthers try 10pm and get back to us 🎻 pic.twitter.com/vSORkU4WrT
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) January 17, 2017
The Bolts
Despite playing well, the Lightning lose to the Ducks 2-1 in OT. “Tampa dominated the final four minutes but were unable to take the lead. The best chance came when Kucherov sprang Drouin on a rush down the right side. Drouin’s initial shot was blocked by Josh Manson but he recovered the puck and almost beat Gibson on the second chance. After that play, both teams seemed willing to head to overtime.” [Raw Charge]
Our long regional nightmare is over: Blake Kessel joins the Kalamazoo Wings. “Kessel joins a Wings team that is playing its best hockey of the season having won six of their last 10 games to climb up to 5th in the Central Division. His offensive prowess will help a team that, despite starting to score more in recent games, is 23rd overall in goals scored on the season.” [Raw Charge]
A more seasoned, dependable Jonathan Drouin takes center stage for Lightning. “But what might be more telling is that Drouin was put on the ice to protect a lead in a 2-1 win over the Kings. That hasn’t happened often the past few years, showing how far the 21-year-old has come, at least in the minds of the coaches.” [Tampa Bay Times]
Tampa Bay Lightning Fans Experience Martin St. Louis Jersey Retirement Via Augmented Reality. “On Sunday, St. Louis took out a full-page advertisement in the Tampa Bay Times, a local newspaper that has 475,000 subscribers. Through a Lightning partnership with local company VidPic AR, fans could download the VidPic App and highlight over the newspaper image of St. Louis to see the No. 26 jersey being raised to the rafters.” [Sport Techie]
Willie meeting @JTBrown23 of @TBLightning after puck drop. pic.twitter.com/bZeYdhBAkx
— LAKingsPR (@LAKingsPR) January 16, 2017
The League
Jack Capuano: An Uncommon Coach for the Common Player. “Jack Capuano didn’t fit into either camp. When he talked, he gave off the impression of a lifer, and his many AHL years and cup of coffee in the NHL provided the bonafides. But he didn’t have that same hard edge that a Ruff or Sutter has. He seemed less like a drill sergeant and more like a substitute teacher.” [LHH]
Post-Capuano, Snow feeling the heat, Islanders evaluating for summer. “One thing left unspoken during Snow’s conference call with media Tuesday afternoon, and another reason to make the move now: This season is essentially a loss.” [LHH]
Garth Snow on Capuano Firing: Team performance is ‘100 percent on me’ “It was Snow’s decision, but it wasn’t made in a vacuum.” [LHH]
Jujhar Khaira’s first goal was a win for NHL diversity and hard workers everywhere. “Khaira is Canadian (born and raised in Surrey, British Columbia) but of Indian descent. Only three players in NHL history have that to boast about; Khaira is the third.” [SBN]
NHL 100: Tales from the police blotter. “In the latest edition of NHL 100, a weekly series from The Canadian Press, we examine some of the more unforgettable, sad, and sobering tales from the police blotter.” [CBC]
Teemu Selanne, Joe Sakic named to IIHF Hall of Fame. “Teemu Selanne and Joe Sakic were among those named to the International Ice Hockey Hall of Fame on Tuesday.” [NHL]
Analyzing the outlooks of five rebuilding NHL teams. “Like it or not “tanking” is a reality in today’s NHL, but that doesn’t mean every rebuilding team is undertaking that unsavoury process. There are stages to a rebuild and they don’t always stay on track. In fact, it can be more of a bumpy road than a track.” [Sportsnet]
And this is important:
On hockey fandom, safe spaces, and the Troll Toll. “[H]ockey fandom increasingly has a dark side. One that has nearly killed me on several occasions; one that has seen me suffer suicidal thoughts, sleepless nights, and affect my relationships and sanity. Dealing with hockey fandom takes a literal toll on peoples’ well being.” [SCOC]
