The Bolts
The Tampa Bay Lightning continue their late-season slump with a 4-1 loss to the Nashville Predators. The game was a close 2-1 affair until Filip Forsberg burned Dan Girardi on a counter-attack, letting the chance for a ccomeback slip away. [Raw Charge]
Speaking of poor passes—Braydon Coburn made a cross-zone pass along the offensive blueline towards Dan Girardi, but the pass was a bit too far ahead of Girardi. Girardi read the play correctly and backed up as Forsberg recovered the puck and moved up the ice. Where Girardi made a mistake was how he covered Forsberg—he gave the young Swede too much space on the outside and he proceeded to skate around Girardi.
Filip Forsberg vs. Dan Girardi in transition went just about the way you’d think it would pic.twitter.com/fQOEnUrcEs
— Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) April 2, 2018
In the game, the Lightning lost their captain Steven Stamkos to what is officially being called a “lower-body injury.” Hopefully this is a good excuse for rest and Stammer will be back in time for the playoffs. [NHL dot com]
Stamkos has been dealing with what he called a nagging injury that kept him out of Tampa Bay’s game March 26 versus Arizona, the first game he’s missed all season. It’s unknown if this latest injury that forced him to leave the game against the Predators is the same one that kept him from the Arizona game.
“Apart from those 12 minutes in the third, I really liked our game.” – Ryan Callahan
Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov don’t have very much time left to catch up with Richards and Marty.
.@TBLightning stars Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov haven’t been shy about lending a helping hand this season. #GoBolts #NHL pic.twitter.com/CAoLBgurGh
— FOX Sports Florida (@FOXSportsFL) April 1, 2018
Not bad, boys, not bad at all.
Points on points on points. #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/GE2PHUZjvQ
— FOX Sports Florida (@FOXSportsFL) April 1, 2018
The Prospects
In good news, the Bolts signed 2017 first-round pick Cal Foote to a three-year entry-level contract! [Raw Charge]
Today, in what would be a cruel April Fools Day joke if that’s what it was, have announced that they have signed 2017 14th overall pick Cal Foote to a three year entry level contract. Foote’s season with the Kelowna Rockets ended with a surprising sweep at the hands of the Tri-City Americans in the first round of the Western Hockey League playoffs.
Let’s make it official! We have signed 2017 first-round pick Cal Foote to a three-year, entry-level contract.
📝: https://t.co/z145QjiC55 pic.twitter.com/RSNFv2KN6s
— x – Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) April 1, 2018
Foote is expected to join the Syracuse Crunch, which in fact IS allowed in the AHL/CHL agreement, my bad!
Prince Albert squeaked by Lightning prospect Oleg Sosunov (and former Bolts prospect Brett Howden) forcing game 7 in Moose Jaw. [Bolt Prospects]
The series returned to the Art Hauser Centre and Prince Albert rallied and forced a game seven behind a pair of goals from Cole Fonstad (2018 draft eligible) and four-points from the captain Curtis Miske (undrafted). Brayden Burke and Jayden Halbgewachs led the Warriors to a 3-2 lead but Sean Montgomery (undrafted) scored just before the end of the 2nd to knot the score. After the Raiders scored a power play goal early in the 3rd, Brett Howden knotted the game with a power play goal of his own before Fonstad scored his second of the game, the game-winner and forces game seven Tuesday night back in Moose jaw.
The Game
Pittsburgh-Washington is a great rivalry that brings out some of the wildest moments on and off the ice. This was no exception. THIS IS MUST-READ MATERIAL [RMNB]
After the game, Malkin explained what got him so mad: “Kuzy spoke Russian.” The Athletic’s Josh Yohe and @PensInsideScoop have the defining tweets.
So, to recap:
–Oshie and Malkin ran into each other.
–Malkin shot Oshie’s stick into the Capitals bench.
–Kuznetsov started shouting at Malkin in Russian from the bench.
–Malkin didn’t appreciate the Russian speech from said bench.
–Ovechkin never heard a thing.— Wes Crosby (@OtherNHLCrosby) April 2, 2018
Oh, Lou.
Scott Foster stops that while filing his client’s tax returns https://t.co/DwmMP1lrzi
— Strombone (@strombone1) April 1, 2018
The Vegas Golden Knights retire #58 in honour of the 58 victims of the 2017 Vegas shooting. [CBS Sports]
On Saturday night, before the Knights’ final home game of the regular season, there was a surprise ceremony at T-Mobile Arena. After a short video played, the names of all 58 victims were projected onto the ice. Those same names were displayed on a banner, along with 58 stars and the words “Vegas Strong,” and raised to the rafters at the arena.
The 58 will always be with us #VegasStrong pic.twitter.com/FwT0HOH3uS
— y – Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 1, 2018
What does life without Hank look like for NYR? [Blueshirt Banter]
Over the thirteen seasons those three men have served as the Blueshirts’ bench boss, only one thing has been consistent: Henrik Lundqvist’s presence between the pipes. Finishing up his 13th season in New York, (as well as his 18th as a member of the organization) Lundqvist will likely want to burn the film on this campaign and move on to preparing for next season.
So Brad Marchand is getting suspended again.
God dammit, Marchand pic.twitter.com/6CNdYeDEle
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 1, 2018
Highlight of the Night: This is extra good because it’s against the Broons.
Claude Giroux wins it for the Flyers in OT pic.twitter.com/gEfhLI3XCQ
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 1, 2018
