The Bolts
The Tampa Bay Lightning travelled to New York and ended up playing their farm team, the New York Rangers, to a 7-3 victory. [Raw Charge]
There was an air of personal redemption after the loss to the Bruins. The Lightning showed up to prove themselves, and they did through their stout penalty kill and a variety of scoring. The Bolts seemed cohesive on both sides of the ice and played confidently with the lead. Though at times a bit careless with defense, the Lightning improved on some recent issues, such as faceoffs and the penalty kill.
There were a lot of milestones last night so bear with me.
Brayden Point scored his 300th goal of the season, the second player on the Lightning to hit that mark this season. Steven Stamkos is three away so hopefully he reaches the milestone as well.
Is this supposed to look this easy? #TBLvsNYR pic.twitter.com/60JuDNVqBy
— x – Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) March 31, 2018
With two points on the night, Yanni Gourde is now one point away from the franchise record for rookie points in a season. Brad Richards his 62 in his first year.
With two points tonight to give him 61 on the season, Yanni Gourde now has sole possession of second place all-time for points in a rookie season in club history, one away from Brad Richards for first all-time. #TBLvsNYR pic.twitter.com/aZgPwmk7t8
— x – Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) March 31, 2018
Game #663 means Stamkos has passed Pavel Kubina for third in all-time games played for the club.
Have to double check, but I believe Stamkos passed Kubina for 3rd most games played in Lightning history tonight. Trailing only Marty and Vinny now
— Dustin Stauffer (@dustinstauffer2) March 31, 2018
Coach Coop is now the winningest bench boss in the Lightning history, passing John Tortorella who had 239 wins to his name.
With tonight’s win, another huge milestone.
Congrats, Coop! History. ⚡️ #TBLvsNYR pic.twitter.com/Jax5q9yzT5
— x – Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) March 31, 2018
And finally, the Lightning have a new franchise record for points in a season with 108 (109 if you include Brayden).
Lightning match franchise record for most points in a season (108) set previously in 2014-15 with tonight’s win in New York. #Bolts also extend franchise mark for most wins (52). #TBLvsNYR
— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) March 31, 2018
J.T. Miller is a versitile player and all of his tools have made him a valuable addition to the Bolts lineup. [Raw Charge]
While McDonagh was the big name added to the roster, the other player that was in the deal, J.T. Miller, might end up being the most important piece (and not just because it continues a Lightning tradition of having a player named “J.T.” on the roster which dates back to 2011*).
J.T. converts in his return to New York. #TBLvsNYR pic.twitter.com/YhcLQzwvCX
— x – Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) March 31, 2018
Poll: The Bolts’ future is in their own hands, but it woud be nice if they got a little help along the way. Who do you think will help the Lightning down the stretch? My vote went to Obi-Wan.
It’s kind of cute how much two of Tampa Bay’s major league teams, the Lightning and Rays, obviously love each other (not sure what the deal is with the Bucs, but that’s probably a whole ‘nother story). Both teams have opened up their practices to each other, with the Lightning taking BP at Tropicana Field and Rays players skating at Amalie Arena.
The Prospects
The Syracuse Crunch continue to roll through the league, picking up two points on the Belleville Senators with a 4-1 victory at home. [Auburn Pub]
Alexander Volkov scored two of the Crunch’s four unanswered goals, as Syracuse beat the Belleville Senators, 4-1, at the Onondaga County War Memorial Friday. Syracuse has won seven straight and has points in 16 of its last 17 games.
The first to hit 20 (and 21) this season. 🚨👊 pic.twitter.com/HQgJ136kAu
— x – Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) March 31, 2018
Benoit Groulx has been an incredible coach from day one. Despite having an extremely young roster, Groulx has been able to maintain a standard of winning while teaching at the same time. [Syracuse]
Winning will do that, of course, and since late November no team has won like the Crunch. Syracuse has been the best team in the AHL by a wide margin during that span. Heading into Friday’s game against Belleville (which Syracuse won for its seventh-straight victory) the team had a points percentage of .769 since Nov. 20. Chicago was next at .708.
The Game
Who is Kyle Palmieri? A brief history on “The Man Who Launched the Devils’ Rebuild” [All About the Jersey]
That bottoming-out of the team in 2015 meant Devils fans had to adjust to something completely foreign to the organization up to that point: a rebuild. They would select Pavel Zacha with that 6th pick, a selection that certainly engenders some debate in these parts, but it was perhaps a start. Then, at the end of that first round when everyone figure the Devils were done for the night, word came through that the team had traded two picks, a 2015 second and a 2016 third, for Anaheim Ducks winger Kyle Palmieri.
Hah, the Montreal Canadiens think one prospect will bring them back to respectibility. MORE WINGERS! [Habs Eyes on the Prize]
Zadina and Svechnikov are both high-end, high-scoring wingers. They would be good offensive replacements if the Canadiens are in fact set to move on from Max Pacioretty, with that move likely giving the Habs even more vouchers for the draft weekend.
Highlight of the Night: Snipe. Celly. Goodnight.
.@RickyRakell93 nets the OT winner. pic.twitter.com/XPwQSqRknw
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) March 31, 2018
