Quick Strikes: Marty Gras

ICYMI

Stamkos says "I knew when I got here, you were a player I was going to look up to... [turns to MSL] ...well not in the literal sense."

— Raw Charge (@RawCharge) January 14, 2017

It was Marty-gras at Raw Charge yesterday, as we poured feels all over the front page in honor of the hockey club's first retired number.

Lightning come up short versus Blue Jackets

Syracuse Crunch snap three-game losing skid with a 5-4 win over the Toronto Marlies

Photo Gallery: Martin St. Louis’ No. 26 goes up in the rafters

From the Press Box: Memories of Marty

91 Days of Stamkos: Day 12, Today is Marty’s Day

Marty St. Louis is aware that he’s an enormous guy in Tampa

Martin St. Louis’ jersey retirement ceremony: Where, when, and one fan’s thoughts

Think that was enough? Maybe we need one more.

The Bolts

MSL "Vinnie... I felt four inches taller playing with you. You'd protect me from anyone, giving me so much space"

— Raw Charge (@RawCharge) January 14, 2017

Lines for the Lightning tonight...

26-26-26
26-26-26
26-26-26
26-26-26

26-26
26-26
26-26

— Raw Charge (@RawCharge) January 14, 2017

Lightning retire Martin St. Louis' No. 26, first in team history. "Wow. What a night," said St. Louis, who teared up during his speech when talking about his late mother. "It's such an incredible honor." [ESPN]

Tampa Bay Lightning: What Martin St. Louis Means To Me. "Former Tampa Bay Lightning captain Martin St. Louis represented much more than simply the player Lightning fans saw on the ice." [Bolts by the Bay]

Martin St. Louis has jersey number retired by Lightning in emotional ceremony. "Martin St. Louis became the first player in Lightning history to have his number retired by the team. It’s an honor well deserved, as St. Louis is the franchise leader in points (953) and was an integral pillar of the organization for a number of years, including their 2004 Stanley Cup season." [Fox Sports]

Martin St. Louis gets his No. 26 retired by Tampa Bay Lightning (Video). "There were speeches from Tortorella, Steven Stamkos, GM Steve Yzerman, Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. But it was St. Louis’ night, and when it was his time to speak, he delivered." [Puck Daddy]

The League

Hayley Wickenheiser calls end to gold-plated career. "The greatest stride's been made in the acceptance of girls playing the game," says Wickenheiser. "Any little girl in this country can walk into a hockey rink and no one is going to think twice or look twice. There's female hockey change rooms in a lot of rinks now." [CBC]

NHL Veterans Having the Best Seasons of Their Careers in 2016-17. Slideshow. [Bleacher Report]

Did Minnesota Wild take mascot violence too far? "So there was a cake, and Tommy Hawk, the Chicago Blackhawks’ mascot, pushed it in Nordy’s face. And then Nordy got his revenge by smacking Tommy Hawk with a bat over and over again, rather than the piñata he was holding. Because he was blindfolded! Fun!" [Puck Daddy]

Blue Jackets' success renews debate over morning skates. "To skate or not to skate has been a question for several years now , but the Blue Jackets' success and the condensed schedule caused by the World Cup and bye weeks this season have sparked plenty of debate about whether the morning skate is an unnecessary relic of the past." [AP]