The Headline
We are, of course, first and foremost a Tampa Bay Lightning blog. However, sometimes other NHL clubs do something so amazing we just have to give credit where it is due. Today, that credit goes to the Carolina Hurricanes.
For those who aren’t aware, the Hurricanes have developed a unique celebration tradition after every home win. Here is their most recent iteration:
We set the bar tonight 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dDJMsmcQlw
— Carolina Hurricanes (@NHLCanes) February 17, 2019
The team has also mimed playing baseball – batting the puck with a stick and all – and has played duck-duck-goose at center ice. As with every thing that goes viral in this world-pretty much every one of these celebrations does-there are many people with many different opinions on this whole thing. One of those people, a person I don’t really even think is worth naming, recently said that the Hurricanes were “a bunch of jerks” for bringing (IMO, anyway) joy and personality to their sport.
The Hurricanes responded, and it was beautifully done.
We’re a bunch of jerks and we have the shirts to prove it.
Available later this week at The Eye. pic.twitter.com/TEefqETEau
— Carolina Hurricanes (@NHLCanes) February 17, 2019
One of the best ways to take away the power of a petty, out-of-line label is by owning that label. It’s really hard to allow a third party to have control over you and/or your actions if you own the thing that the party is using to try to take power away from you. By doing this, the Hurricanes have sent a message, and, even better, done so in a way that’s going to turn a profit.
Brilliant.
Just how brilliant? Well…
Folks, Patrick Burke (Brian Burke’s son) just told me if Canes fans donate $1,000 to his Boston Marathon GoFundMe (he’s raising the money for You Can Play) then he will personally present one of the Bunch of Jerks shirts (on sale now) to his dad: https://t.co/D8JcCpfhor
— Sara Civ (@SaraCivian) February 17, 2019
Someone donated $1,000 dollars within EIGHT minutes?! Are you kidding pic.twitter.com/EyxMhXGlDo
— Sara Civ (@SaraCivian) February 17, 2019
But wait! It got better:
Damn, guys pic.twitter.com/EQgzmwXYPu
— Nikita Zaitsev appreciator (@HardevLad) February 18, 2019
Brilliant.
The Bolts
-The Lightning organization has a new shutout leader: Andrei Vasilevskiy. He dethroned former net minder Ben Bishop the other night when Tampa won against Montreal. Vasy shared his thoughts with the media post game.
On becoming the franchise leader in shutouts: “It’s cool. Bish is an unbelievable goalie, and I’m pretty proud to be number one now in shutouts.”#MTLvsTBL | Andrei Vasilevskiy: pic.twitter.com/9YYVV9TdBf
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) February 17, 2019
-He might seem young for it, but Vasy is already inspiring the next round of young goalie superstars, including Spencer Knight.
Spencer Knight, possibly the 1st goalie to be drafted in this year’s upcoming draft, says on NBC that Andrei Vasilevskiy is somebody who he looks to as someone to model his game after. Also mentions Bobrovsky and Fredrik Andersen
It’s amazing the impact Vasy is already having— Lightning Insider (@Erik_Erlendsson) February 17, 2019
-That game also brought some other interesting news to fans’ attention:
By far the craziest stat i’ve ever seen this far into a season pic.twitter.com/46zvZqwDGV
— Deadbolt (@TBL_DeadBolt) February 17, 2019
-There’s a watch party for the Lightning’s game at Columbus tonight:
Who’s joining us at @Irish31Tampa tomorrow for #TBLvsCBJ?
Party starts at 7pm for a 7:30pm puck drop! ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/vnr2CDPJAT
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) February 17, 2019
The org
-The Syracuse Crunch is putting on a charity paint night on March 5th for Change for Change, the initiative started by former Captain Mike Angelidis (and his teammates).
Bring out your inner Picasso for Painting with a Purpose🎨 Fans are invited to join #SyrCrunch players at @PWATDeWittNY in creating hockey-themed artwork to raise money for Change for Change on Tuesday, March 5.
Register: https://t.co/zLJITcdrFw pic.twitter.com/W8cQQdwWxZ
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) February 17, 2019
The Other
-The Florida Panthers had a touching tribute last night to those who were lost at Stoneman Douglas High a year ago this past Valentine’s Day.
#FlaPanthers will honor families of those lost at Stoneman Douglas High tonight before game v Canadiens. Families will drop ceremonial first pucks, there will be a tribute video. Later start than the scheduled 7 pm. pic.twitter.com/FFQGvWvWw1
— George Richards (@GeorgeRichards) February 17, 2019
-Ivan Bondarenko’s story is similar to many youths who want to pursue their NHL dream. They leave home young, roll the dice, and see what happens. Bondarenko’s tale, though, has been a little different.
It turns out that he had not only crossed the Atlantic in search of a hockey career but also criss-crossed the North American continent looking for a chance to raise his game and become a pro. His decisions were as extreme as they come and everything was left to chance. That, I eventually found out, suits Ivan Bondarenko just fine.
-Vancouver Canuks prospect Mike DiPetro seems like a really good dude. Here’s your wholesome, feel good story of the day:
This is Paige.
Her family came from Paris, ON to see Mikey play. He didn’t. He saw the sign and got her an signed stick. Even better – He took her skating on the canal w/the team Sat. They raced. She won. She’ll see him play today.
More ppl should be like Mikey. @canucks pic.twitter.com/7HA43GbxDW
— Chris Pope (@_ChrisPope) February 17, 2019
-Look out!
— out of context hockey (@hockeycontext) February 17, 2019
-The NHL trade deadline can be very emotional for fans who have teams that are sellers. To help New York Rangers fans get through what might be a potential cluster, Mike Murphy of Blue Shirt Banter devised a helpful survival guide.
It’s important to remember that the Rangers aren’t the only big sellers this year. It’s even more important to remember that there are bigger names on the market than Kevin Hayes, Mats Zuccarello, and Adam McQuaid. If Artemi Panarin, Mark Stone, and Matt Duchene are the Tickle Me Elmos, the Rangers are selling assets that are more like Gigglepuss Grover or something. And McQuaid is something like Threaten-us-with-Tetanus-Oscar the Grouch.
-The American Hockey League continues to be one of the strongest places for NHL talent to develop. With a quartet of players making their NHL debut the other night, 86 AHL’ers this season have now made that jump and played their first game.
With Kole Sherwood (@BlueJacketsNHL), Joel L’Esperance (@DallasStars), Matt Roy (@LAKings) and Karson Kuhlman (@NHLBruins) skating in their first games last night, 86 AHL players have now made their @NHL debuts in 2018-19. pic.twitter.com/uPF2RJCRjg
— AHL Communications (@AHLPR) February 17, 2019
-Women hockey players deserve to be talked about in reference to their own achievements and their own lives, not the achievements and lives of who they are related to. Here’s a helpful guide from Melissa Burgess, just in case it’s needed:
What you say about women’s hockey players vs. what could/should be said.#RivalrySeries pic.twitter.com/6aMSbv4Aho
— Melissa Burgess (@_MelissaBurgess) February 17, 2019
