The Bolts
Fan poll: The Vegas Golden Knights are an NHL team and the Tampa Bay Lightning have now played them twice. How do you feel about them? [Raw Charge]
“The Golden Knights did not cut corners by merely assembling a roster of high-priced mercenaries. Crafty deals and an expansion draft they didn’t have to share with another new team allowed them to acquire talent like James Neal, who scored 23 goals for the Western Conference champion Nashville Predators and Marc-Andre Fleury, the starting goalie for the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. They also got Jonathan Marchessault, who was productive and a fan favorite with the Lightning.”
Steven Stamkos did not have a good night against the Golden Knights. [Tampa Bay Times]
““As a leader, I have to be a lot better, set an example,” Stamkos said. “Our line didn’t do that (Thursday). I’ll take responsibility for that. We’re behind the eight-ball to start games, which has been a trend as of late. It’s just too hard of a league to play from behind all the time.”
“We need to take a look in the mirror, starting with myself, and give more of a passionate performance. We can’t just go out there and expect to win.”#VGKvsTBL | Steven Stamkos: pic.twitter.com/9yqxGPzF5e
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) January 19, 2018
What were some things that we learned after Thursday nights 4-1 hammering by Vegas? [NHL dot com]
1. EARLY GOALS DOOM BOLTS
“On the game’s opening shift, Vegas’ Deryk Engelland sent an innocuous-looking shot at the net from just inside the blue line past Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, replay showing James Neal getting a tip on the shot to give him a goal in six of his last seven games versus Tampa Bay.”
Did someone say free stuff?
Heading to Children’s Gasparilla tomorrow morning? Keep your eyes peeled. 👀#GasparillaTampa | #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/GBGeCdmsn3
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) January 19, 2018
After an underwhelming end to the homestand, maybe it’s time for the Lightning to head on the road. [Tampa Bay Times]
“The Lightning needs a reset — fast. Star goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, facing the first true test of his NHL career, needs to get dialed back in. And someone, anyone not named Hedman, needs to start playing defense. The Lightning is playing bad in its end, and that has spread to the other end.”
The Prospects
Is Taylor Raddysh’s success a prodduct of who he plays with (Connor McDavid, Dylan Strome, Alex DeBrincat) or by his own merit? [Raw Charge]
“Raddysh was leading the Otters with 44 points in 30 games before he left for the World Junior Championships. His scoring rate was down from the previous season with the Otters, but he was carrying a large offensive load for the team… Since joining fellow Team Canada linemate and Lightning prospect Boris Katchouk, Raddysh has put up four goals and nine points in just three games.
The best-in-the-league Toronto Marlies came out aggressive and never looked back, beating the Syracuse Crunch 4-1 in their own barn. [Syracuse]
“The loss ended Syracuse’s 10-game points streak, a tradeoff that would be worthwhile if it refocuses the Crunch on the three-period sweat needed to beat elites such as North Division rival Toronto, which leads the entire AHL in points percentage (.725).”
Head coach Benoit Groulx’s post-game interview. “I don’t think we’ve been playing fast.”
Groulx said Erne is day to day and Lynch is out 2-4 weeks.
— Jeremy Houghtaling (@JGHoughtaling) January 20, 2018
Otto Somppi out-produced all of the other nine Tampa Bay Lightning prospects who played on Friday night… Combined. [Bolt Prospects]
“The Otto Somppi Experience dialed up a two goal, four point explosion leading the Mooseheads to an overtime victory over the Screaming Eagles, earning First Star honors in front of 8200+ at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax.”
Otto’s 14th goal of the year ties him with Zadina for the team lead in scoring with 52 points. #GoMooseGo pic.twitter.com/1lX3fyITtX
— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) January 19, 2018
The Game
Dustin Brown was given the harshest fine allowed by the NHL for his hit on Justin Schultz. Evgeni Malkin also recieved a fine, this one for spearing Brown earlier in the game. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
“Brown hit Schultz into the boards from behind early in the third period, causing Schultz to miss the rest of the game. Schultz said after the game he had passed through concussion protocol. Brown was given a five-minute boarding major, which resulted in Patric Hornqvist’s insurance goal, and a game misconduct.”
The Seattle group looking to buy a hockey team has registered 13 potential team names for the franchise. [TSN]
“As first reported by SportsLogos.Net, DetroitHockey.net’s Clark Rasmussen discovered that 38 domains representing 13 different franchise names have been registered by a Christina Song, who is listed as the general counsel for the Oak View Group. The Oak View Group was the winning bidder for the right to redevelop Seattle’s KeyArena, the former home of the SuperSonics.”
Need a goalie? Who are the top available goaltending names out there? [The Hockey News]
“As one would expect, the goaltending market is fairly thin as the trade deadline approaches, which isn’t great news for those in search of some stability in goal ahead of the post-season. But what makes the market that much thinner is that the best options – the backups, second-stringers and so-called 1Bs who’ve stood out this season – seem rather unlikely to move.”
Highlight of the Night: Yes, but now imagine Max Pacioretty with a slight tan and a blue and white uniform.
