The Bolts
Now that J.T. Brown is off throwing big hits for the Anaheim Ducks, it’s time to look back at the Tampa Bay Lightning career the fietsy winger had. [Raw Charge]
“Since scoring goals wasn’t part of his game he did work hard on other assets, forechecking and puck transition. As Loserpoints shows in his post, Brown was really good at getting the puck out of his zone and into the offensive zone. It’s just that once he got it into the zone there was a little trouble in getting it into the back of the net.”
Habitat for Humanity is a world class organization. If you ever have a day off grab some friends — or even go alone — and help them build a house. It’s a lot of fun. [NHL dot com]
“In September, 2017 the Lightning, Panthers, NHL and NHLPA announced a joint donation of $2.7 million for hurricane relief to those affected across the state of Florida. Today, the hockey community combined efforts to use funding from this donation to help build new homes, sharing Habitat for Humanity’s goal to create safe, affordable housing that is accessible to hard working families.”
The @TBLightning @FlaPanthers @NHL and @NHLPA partnered with @Habitat_org to rebuild homes in South Florida that were affected by Hurricane Irma. Thanks to #TBLightning Alumni Dave, Ruslan, Brian and Paul for serving today! pic.twitter.com/BBrNrYZAUC
— TBL Alumni (@boltsalumni) January 16, 2018
How do the Tampa Bay Lightning practice? [Tampa Bay Times]
“Those who regularly attend Lightning practices marvel at how well Cooper mixes drills. He often turns them into competitions to keep players engaged in an effort to ward off the Groundhog’s Day effect of game day/practice day/game day/practice day than can grow old over an 82-game season stretched over six months.”
Four points in two games is a good way to earn Player of the Week honors.
Leading the way in our win over Carolina last week, Tyler Johnson is our @orangetheory Player of the Week for Jan. 8-14. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vJclRXqRnh
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) January 16, 2018
The Prospects
The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Tampa Bay Lightning prospect report is ready for this week! [Raw Charge]
“The Greyhounds are…just wow.”
“Katchouk pushed his point streak to 12 games with at least a point in all three of the Soo’s games this weekend. He earned Second Star in each of the Greyhounds’ wins on Friday and Saturday, scoring twice on Friday and adding three assists on Saturday. He leads his club in goals (30) and shorthanded goals (5) and is second with 54 points in 34 games.”
#CHL Player of the Week is @TBLightning prospect and #WorldJuniors gold medalist @Raddy1998 with 9PTS in his first 3GP with @OHLHoundPower: https://t.co/MaIzkReLzi pic.twitter.com/KsoGpLjjBy
— CanadianHockeyLeague (@CHLHockey) January 16, 2018
Adirondack Thunder update, the Thunder start slow but pick up the pace as the week goes on. [Raw Charge]
“It was Adirondack’s annual Pink in the Rink Night, as the team donned special pink and white jerseys. All were auctioned off postgame to fans, with proceeds going to the C.R. Wood Cancer Center at Glens Falls Hospital.”
In case you were not aware, Domingue is back up for Ingram days before the Lightning return to action.
The @TBLightning have recalled goaltender Louis Domingue.
📝 → https://t.co/HYDDk0InUh pic.twitter.com/8Of4H1nMfo
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) January 16, 2018
And lastly, the Syracuse Crunch are in the middle of another streak this week. [Syracuse Crunch]
“Syracuse started the week with road wins in Binghamton, 4-1 Wednesday night, and Utica, 3-2 Friday night, before playing their first home games of 2018. They earned two shutout wins in their first two home games, 4-0 over Rochester and 3-0 over Binghamton to begin the second half of the season.”
The Game
31 Thoughts has returned — with a 31 Thoughts Podcast not far behind — with lots of juicy news from around the league. [Sportsnet]
“10. Here come the defencemen. Now on the market: Jack Johnson (UFA this summer); Paul Martin (one more season under contract at a $4.85-million cap hit) and Dion Phaneuf (three more years, $7-million cap). Martin and Phaneuf’s actual salaries are slightly lower than their cap hits, though.”
Corey Crawford is feeling symptoms of vertigo and may be out for the rest of the year. [Second City Hockey]
“There is “growing concern” within the Chicago Blackhawks organization that Corey Crawfordwill miss the remainder of the 2017-18 season due to “vertigo-like symptoms,” reports theChicago Sun-Times’ Mark Lazerus. The star goaltender has been out since Dec. 23 with an undisclosed upper-body injury.”
Nathan MacKinnon for the Hart? [SB Nation]
“Losing takes a toll on you,” MacKinnon said last January, when the Avs were mired in a run of 19 losses in 21 games. “Obviously we’re blessed to play this game and we’re fortunate, but losing feels like when you’re a kid when you lose. It sucks.”
Highlight of the Night: looks like someone finally got around to waking Jason Spezza from his nap.
