The Bolts
The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Dallas Stars 6-3. “Toward the end of the second, shots mounted 16-12, Stars. With 17 seconds left, after an extended swearing session by Cooper behind the bench, the Bolts finally showed some jump.” [Raw Charge]
“Currently, Tampa Bay is three points behind Toronto and Ottawa for third place in the Atlantic Division/the second wild card, but the Maple Leafs and Senators each own a game in hand on the Bolts. The Bruins are four points in front of the Bolts, but Tampa Bay owns a game in hand. Quite simply, the Lightning cannot afford to drop another game with four contests remaining in the regular season.” [Tampa Bay Lightning]
The Bolts should not rely on losses by other Atlantic Division teams to get them into the playoffs. “There will be no help forthcoming for the Lightning. All they can do is protect their own house and hope it’s enough to keep the foundation of the season from crumbling around them. For one more night, Tampa Bay stood its ground.” [Lightning Insider, subscription]
Last night was all about the rookies: Adam Erne (2G), Brayden Point (1G), Yanni Gourde (1A), and Jake Dotchin (1A). “It was Kids Night at Amalie Arena on Sunday. Heck, it has been Kids Season for the Lightning, with rookies helping keep its once-lost season afloat.” [Tampa Bay Times]
The Bolts are making the greatest calendar of all time.
A behind-the-scenes peek at some shots for… yesssss!
An upcoming #Bolts & pets calendar 🐶 pic.twitter.com/orDC0YuAkW
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) April 1, 2017
Ryan Callahan is confident his hip will fully recover. “Callahan said he can see the ‘light at the end of the tunnel.’ And Callahan thinks, at the very latest, he could be back to his old self for next season. ‘100-percent,’ Callahan said. ‘I should have no lingering issues from this at all.’” [Tampa Bay Times]
The Prospects
These highlights will focus on players who contributed goals or assists last night as well as goalie prospect Connor Ingram. Dennis Yan (Shawinigan Catarates) was held off the score sheet as his team lost 5-1 and was eliminated from the playoffs.
Mitchell Stephens (#67 in white) scored a goal for the London Knights as they defeated the Windsor Spitfires 5-3 to force a Game 7.
Connor Ingram (#39) stopped 31 of 34 shots for the Kamloops Blazers who fell 4-2 to the Kelowna Rockets and were eliminated from the playoffs. Ingram was awarded second star of the game for his effort. [Video highlights unavailable]
The Game
Two former Bolts who were traded away earlier this season have been officially eliminated from playoff contention – Ben Bishop (Los Angeles Kings) and Valtteri Filppula (Philadelphia Flyers). The only traded player who remains in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs is Brian Boyle (Toronto Maple Leafs).
Martin St. Louis may have hung up his skates in the NHL, but he still spends plenty of time at the rink. “I tell the parents, ‘I’m going to coach like I parent, and if you don’t like my parental skills, you’re probably not going to like me as a coach,'” said St. Louis, who runs weekday practices, coaches games on weekends and travels with his son’s teams. “I’m here to (1) Make good people, and (2) Make good hockey players. In that order. Usually, good people will become good at something if they’re passionate about it because the good people will hold themselves accountable and they’ll do the right thing to get better.” [ESPN]
Calgary Flames president Ken King wants a new arena. If he doesn’t get, he might try to relocate the franchise. “There would be no threat to move, we would just move, and it would be over. And I’m trying my level best to make sure that day never comes, frankly,” King said during an interview on Sportsnet Fan 590 in Toronto on Wednesday. [NBC]
As the 2018 Olympics approach, women’s hockey team rosters are being discussed. One name is noticeably absent from Team USA. “Blake Bolden, a trailblazing African-American who starred at Boston College, became a three-time All-Star for Boston’s professional women’s hockey teams, and by many accounts warrants a shot at a spot on the US Olympic roster, appears unlikely to fulfill her dream of skating for gold. Bolden, a gifted defender who would be the first black skater on a US women’s Olympic hockey team, has not been given an opportunity to compete for the 2018 team, despite her widely acclaimed talent.” [Boston Globe]
