The Bolts
When it comes to organizational depth at goaltending, there are no small trades. Yesterday, the Tampa Bay Lightning acquired Eddie Pasquale from the NHL Edmonton Oilers/AHL Bakersfield Condors in exchange for two ECHLers, goaltender Nic Riopel and forward Ty Loney. [Raw Charge]
Chances are, Pasquale won’t be pleased if Domginue or Budaj arrives in Syracuse and the organization tries to send him to ECHL Adirondack. I highly doubt ECHL time is in the works for Ingram. Will they then trade Pasquale again? Is another solution – possibly Budaj’s departure from the organization – now more seriously in the works? All good questions without real answers right now.
Pasquale has appeared in 16 games with the Bakersfield Condors, compiling a record of 6-5-4 to go along with a 2.60 goals-against average and .910 save percentage. He leads the Condors for goals-against average and save percentage.
He will report to the #SyrCrunch.
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) February 1, 2018
Has anyone ever seen goaltender drills before? I didn’t know they did stuff like this!
Extra work for both goaltenders after practice with Goaltending Coach Frantz Jean. #Bolts pic.twitter.com/tPJc8Ub317
— Caley Chelios (@CaleyChelios) January 31, 2018
Should Steve Yzerman sell the farm? [Raw Charge]
As fans, it’s hard to not get swept into the visions of a Erik Karlsson or a John Tavares joining the Lightning. It’s easy to see one of them in Bolts’ blue and being a star and a huge impact on a potential Stanley Cup winning team. For Steve Yzerman, those visions also must be very alluring as well.
During #NHLAllStar week, we spent a morning at @HCPSClairMel with members of our #Bolts staff, the @lightningfdn, the @NHL, @Lowes, and @BGCTampa helping revamp the school grounds and creating new learning spaces. ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/MsXlEAdGdJ
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) January 31, 2018
Like Brayden Point and Yanni Gourde before him, Matthew Peca is hungry and desperate to stick in the NHL. [Tampa Bay Times]
J.T. Brown was waived last month to create a roster spot so general manager Steve Yzerman could import some of the young talent at AHL Syracuse. “Just reinvigorate, just reenergize our team,” assistant coach Todd Richards said after Wednesday’s practice. “The season is long, sometimes you need changes. Changes have to happen.”
Peca is desperate, and that’s what the Lightning needs right now.
Just the one, but it was a beauty.
Peca’s slick moves are tonight’s @SonnysBBQ goal of the game. #TBLvsWPG pic.twitter.com/8ZSumzYDBY
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) January 31, 2018
2012 was not only six years ago, but also the year when Martin St. Louis scored a hat trick in his 900th game.
February 4, 2012 – Marty celebrates 900th game with hat trick
Skating in his 900th career NHL game, Martin St. Louis recorded his 5th career hat trick in a 6-3 win over the Panthers. Vincent Lecavalier also had a big night, scoring a goal and adding three assists.
The Prospects
So…What happened at the AHL All-Star Classic last weekend? @trace_1114 has everything you need to catch you up! [Raw Charge]
For the second time in three seasons, the city of Utica, New York, played host to the All-Star Skills Competition and the All-Star Challenge the following day. Syracuse Crunch forward Mitchell Stephens was the lone selection from the team, replacing the recalled Matthew Peca.
#SyrCrunch forward @Stephens2727 is the first leg of his Sher-Wood Puck Control Relay.
The East Conference picks up two points in the first event. #AHLAllStar pic.twitter.com/b6A4XeCzFO
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) January 29, 2018
Our Junior reporter (not me, I’m the other kind) @ElSeldo travelled to some junior hockey towns and interviewed several players about some very interesting Lightning prospects on top of a full prospect report. [Raw Charge]
The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds — with Boris Katchouk and Taylor Raddysh — have clinched a playoff spot with 20 games to go on the season. Now they’re challenge is to win the Hamilton Spectator Trophy as top in the OHL’s regular season. They have a 12 point lead over second place Sarnia, so it’s probably safe to say they have it in the bag.
Some more insight into the trade the Lightning and Oilers organizations pulled off with an emphasis on the AHL implications. [Syracuse]
He has played in 211 career AHL games over seven seasons with the Condors, Grand Rapids Griffins, St. John’s IceCaps and Chicago Wolves, posting a record of 100-83-10 to go along with a 2.60 goals-against average, a .913 save percentage and 15 shutouts. He has never played in the NHL.
The Syracuse Crunch are having a small business night next weekend. Business cards, everywhere!
We’re hosting Small Business Night on Friday, Feb. 9. Promote your services, while connecting with #SyrCrunch fans.
Register by Feb. 2 to receive a table in Memorial Hall and in-game recognition for your business. → https://t.co/mKSejdcm8o pic.twitter.com/vfjW1hhEoO
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) January 31, 2018
This weekend is also “Pink in the Rink” night. Let’s raise awareness and some money for breast cancer research, shall we?
This Saturday, join the #SyrCrunch for Pink in the Rink presented by @UpstateCancer. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to raise awareness for breast cancer research.
📝⟶ https://t.co/x8DASi9lY9 pic.twitter.com/GrB9BD6jNm
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) January 31, 2018
The Game
A few rookies had big nights in Toronto. On the first day of their annual Fathers Trip, sophomore winger Kasperi Kapanen scored his first goal of the season to open the scoring against the New york Islanders. He was then followed by defensemen Travis Dermott and Justin Holl who each scored their first career NHL goal.
Holl’s goal came approximately six hours into his NHL career on a day that started as a preparation day for the AHL game against the Laval Rocket on Saturday. It was a massive night for the two rookies and one of the better stories in the NHL on Wednesday. [Pension Plan Puppets]
Dermott does a sweet deke with puck in the neutral zone, and carries it to the offensive zone, and then it almost seems like they lose the puck, and Nylander, well… watch it. Dermott with his first NHL goal. I’ve never been so happy to be wrong about a guy as I am right now (he’s still a little iffy at times, which just means he’ll get better). What a moment. What a goal.
MILESTONE ALERT! Travis Dermott gets his 1st career NHL goal with his Dad in the building! 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/TCT753nzYC
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 1, 2018
With new ownership getting settled in Carolina, it’s time for the Hartford Whalers to return. Wait, no. That’s not the way I meant it. [SB Nation]
According to Greg Wyshynski of ESPN, Dundon is open to using the Hartford Whalers logo and likeness to promote the team down the road. That includes merchandise and even playing games in throwback Whalers jerseys.
Umm…apparently Mike Fisher is coming out of retirement and will be signing with the Nashville Predators — the team he formerly was captaining — for this spring’s playoff run? All right then. [On the Forecheck]
After coming up short in the Stanley Cup Finals with the Ottawa Senators in 2007, it took Mike Fisher ten years to make a return to the finals. Once more, he left empty handed. Were his name on the Stanley Cup, he may still be in retirement. However, his business isn’t finished.
Boys, go get Mike his Cup.
Highlight of the Night: Tomas Tatar. Shootout. Toe drag.
Oh my god what a move by Tatar pic.twitter.com/nA2sH2GqC9
— Prashanth Iyer (@iyer_prashanth) February 1, 2018
