The Bolts
The Tampa Bay Lightning lost the second half of this back-to-back home-opening weekend to the Florida Panthers. The score was only 5-4 but the Lightning got crushed in every metric including shots, shot attempts, and possession. “If the Bolts were held in for a victory by Vasilevskiy yesterday, he tried his hardest to do the same tonight. He ultimately failed, blocking “only” 43 of the 48 shots he faced, but damn.” [Raw Charge]
Some good news, Brayden Point is really good.
Tampa Bay Lightning forward J.T. Brown raised his fist during the national anthem in an attempt to bring awareness to police brutality against minorities and racial inequality. “I’ve been able to see both sides, but I still wanted to show my support for the root of the protest, talking about police brutality and inequality. Those are issues that we need to be talking about.” [Tampa Bay Times]
“I know there’s going to be negative backlash. But in my heart, I know I did what was right.”
#tblightning @JTBrown23 raises closed first during national anthem tonight in Sunrise as silent protest pic.twitter.com/73HCAqTR0R
— Joe Smith (@TBTimes_JSmith) October 7, 2017
Yanni Gourde was interviewed between periods and was asked to talk about a lot. Particularly Andrei Vasilevskiy, and his linemates, Brayden Point and Ondrej Palat, who he calls very hard workers.
Yanni Gourde talks about @TBLightning offense and his success with Point and Palat. #NHL pic.twitter.com/r984yRjLcQ
— FOX Sports Florida (@FOXSportsFL) October 8, 2017
Mikhail Sergachev isn’t afraid to make mistakes. “(Coach Jon Cooper) talked to me and said, ‘We don’t care if you make mistakes, it’s just if you work hard or not.’ I’m not afraid to make mistakes, because if you are, you make a lot of them. I just try to play my game and if I have a chance to create something, I try to.” [Tampa Bay Times]
The Crunch
The Syracuse Crunch also lost the second half of their back-to-back home-opening weekend to the Rochester Americans, losing 3-2 in OT. The Crunch raised their brand new Division and Conference Champion banners before the game. “The Crunch knotted it up for a second time at the 11:51 mark of the third period to eventually force overtime. Stephens fed the puck across the slot to Lynch, who was alone at the backdoor. Thomas earned a point for the secondary.” [Syracuse Crunch]
All alone on the backdoor. pic.twitter.com/fOV702o1Zf
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) October 8, 2017
@Allovimo wrote an op-ed after the first game of the Crunch’s season, opening up about the crushing loss that was the end of not only last season, but potentially an era of success, as a lot of the best players on Syracuse made the jump to the NHL. “This season has much potential. Win or lose, one thing is certain: it’s time to embrace a new season with new opportunities and new memories just waiting to be made.” [Raw Charge]
Thank you to our players, coaches and fans for an unforgettable 2016-17 season. 👊 pic.twitter.com/pWMbsshlde
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) October 8, 2017
Some of our Lightning prospects in the CHL have looked really good lately. Boris Katchouk leads the OHL in goals and points. Oleg Sosunov can’t stop scoring while his captain Brett Howden also can’t stop having multi-point nights. Full report by Bolt Prospects here: [Bolt Prospects]
The Game
The world doesn’t deserve Jaromir Jagr. [SB Nation]
Jaromir Jagr crashing an interview with the Traveling Jagrs at the Flames opener is awesome pic.twitter.com/bPlR9oPqtu
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) October 8, 2017
Highlight of the Night: Ovechkin’s hattrick. Not only were these goals all spectacular, the reactions and celebrations from Ovi himself are so pure and joyous, you can’t help but love him.
Alex Ovechkin and Nathan Walker made history in Washingtons thumping of the Montreal Canadiens. Walker becomes the first ever Australian-born NHLer, AND SCORED A GOAL! Meanwhile, Ovi breaks a 100 year old record, becoming the first player in a ccentury to start the season with back-to-back hat-tricks!! Hats off to you, Ovi. [Japers Rink]
Back-up HotN definitely goes to Colorado Avalanche back-up Jonathan Bernier. I have no words.
This Jonathan Bernier save is absurd pic.twitter.com/CSgerd7Vub
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) October 7, 2017
The Florida Panthers have signed Michael Matheson to an EIGHT-YEAR contract worth a total of $39 million (cap hit: $4.875 million). “Matheson was in the third and final year of his entry-level deal. The 23-year-old was drafted by the Panthers in the first round, 23rd overall, of the 2012 NHL Draft. He played three years of college hockey at Boston College, and spent a year with the Portland Pirates of the AHL before breaking through on the Panthers last season.” [Last Word on Hockey]
The Toronto Maple Leafs are getting their own loonie ($1) for their 100th season. Does this mean the Lightning get their own quarter? [Sportsnet]
To celebrate the @MapleLeafs 100th Anniversary, @CanadianMint have created a special #100TML $1 coin. #StandWitness https://t.co/DAD6SzvPKE pic.twitter.com/0bvxia1q9V
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 7, 2017
No, the coins aren’t actually that big up here, but we do call them loonies! Any guesses to what we call our $2 coin? Answer in the comments!
