The Bolts
Is Cedric Paquette on the outside looking into the Tampa Bay Lightning’s playoff roster, or has he made it? [Tampa Bay Times]
It was a monster performance for Paquette, who had two goals, an assist, a team-high six shots and five hits. And he won 53 percent of his faceoffs. Often a healthy scratch the past month with the emergence of rookie Anthony Cirelli, Paquette pounced on an opportunity with Ryan Callahan and Adam Erne sidelined with injuries.
There are four games left in the Lightning’s regular season schedule, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need RxlandS’s desktop backgrounds! [Raw Charge]
The Lightning, Winnipeg Jets, Nashville Predators, and the Boston Bruins appear to be the “Final Four” teams in that top tier of Stanley Cup favourites. Let’s have a look at each of them. [The Hockey News]
Since they’re divisional rivals – Boston and Tampa Bay in the Atlantic, Nashville and Winnipeg in the Central – the best they can do is face off in respective Round 2 showdowns. But make no mistake, those second-round series should be viewed as the league’s semifinals, with the winning sides ready to roll through Round 3 on their way to the Cup series.
*Rolls eyes* “including shootouts.”
The @TBLightning lead the NHL with 282 goals for this season (including shootout-deciding goals).
They have concluded a season leading the League outright in goals on one prior occasion – 2014-15 (262). #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/Bk7RbzSwpg
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 31, 2018
The Prospects
The Syracuse Crunch had seven straight wins coming into tonight against the Charlotte Checkers but it was snapped in a 4-1 loss to Carolina’s farm team.
Olivier Archambault scored the lone Syracuse goal on the power play in the third period. Condra and Matthew Peca recorded the assists. Connor Ingram finished with 26 saves, including 16 in the first period alone, but was tagged with the loss.
“Team USA Hockey forward Kendall Coyne hosted a free girls hockey clinic Saturday afternoon before the Syracuse Crunch game.” [Local SYR]
Oleg Sosunov and his Moose Jaw Warriors are now on the brink of elimination after losing game five at home to the Prince Albert Raiders by a score of 5-1. [Bolt Prospects]
Back at the Mosaic Place in Moose Jaw for Game 5, and the Warriors poised to clinch on home ice. But the Raiders didn’t get the memo, as Prince Albert jumped out to a 3-0 lead and didn’t look back. Sean Montgomery (undrafted) scored twice to pace the Raiders. There is a quick turnaround for Game 6 back in Prince Albert on Easter Sunday evening.
Defenseman Nick Perbix and forward Sammy Walker both had third star nights for their respective USHL clubs on Saturday night. [Bolt Prospects]
Sammy Walker notched his first career USHL goal as that line with Dylan Mills (Niagara commit) and Cole Koepke (Minnesota-Duluth commit) continues to produce for the Musketeers. Finnish University of Wisconsin commit Sampo Ranta (2018 draft eligible) scored twice and added an assist to pace Sioux City and former Wisconsin goalie Matt Jurusik (undrafted) stopped 30 shots. Walker’s goal earned him Third Star honors.
The Game
So Canada’s xenophobic loud-mouth ass-hat who somehow has the country’s biggest platform also known as Don Cherry called the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds — the team with Canadian Lightning prospects Taylor Raddysh and Bosi Katchouk — “a bunch of hotdogs” Why? Honestly, no one knows. [Sportsnet]
They’re coming off a four-game sweep of the Saginaw Spirit in the opening round of the OHL playoffs. Game 2 of that series was an 8-0 shellacking and Don Cherry didn’t like how the Greyhounds ran up the score and showboated on several late goals.
Uh, huh. Thanks, gramps. *thumbs up*
Speaking of former Boston Bruins defensemen falling on their ass and seriously hurting themselves, Brandon Carlo fell really awkwardly on his ankle and twisted it badly. He might be out for a while. Then again, it’s not like it’ll affect the Bruins at all. [Stanley Cup of Chowder]
Obviously it’s good to be optimistic, but legs don’t bend like that. It seems like the best case scenario, given how much pain he was in, is a high ankle or bad knee sprain; either one would be weeks on the shelf. The worst case would be a tear, either in the knee or ankle, which would put him out months.
Brandon Carlo lands awkwardly on his left ankle and gets stretchered off the ice pic.twitter.com/lcISiyxbW2
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) March 31, 2018
In the west, the Colorado Avalanche lost their best defenseman and goaltender for the rest of the season. Does this mean Nikita Kucherov gets the Hart now? By the way, I wrote the piece on MHH so you better click the link…please! [Mile High Hockey]
After consulting with the doctors, Johnson will be out six weeks to heal the fracture in his knee.
The Avalanche starting netminder was forced to leave Friday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks after being run into by Tomas Jurco on a breakaway. Jonathan Bernier came into the game and help Varly record the first ever Avalanche/Nordiques team shutout.
Here is the play where Semyon Varlamov was injured. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/lHyH5COW4P
— Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) March 31, 2018
Congratulations to @tseguinofficial who reaches 40 goals for the first time in his NHL career! Just the third Dallas Star to hit 40 in a single season! #GoStars pic.twitter.com/wnKY9jmTD4
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) April 1, 2018
Highlight of the Night: Maybe it ISN’T William Karlsson’s shooting percentage? (no, it most definitely is his sh%).
ARE YOU FREAKING SERIOUS RIGHT NOW!?@WKarlsson71…. HOW!? pic.twitter.com/JJvMz41f8n
— NHL (@NHL) April 1, 2018
