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Quick Strikes: Tampa Bay Lightning to wear black jerseys again tonight against Pittsburgh

and the Syracuse Crunch crushed the Hartford <strike>Whalers</strike> Wolfpack 6-0

The Bolts

The analytics community have unveiled the latest frontier in evaluating hockey teams for the purpose of winning that big silver thing they call Stanley. After extensive testing and a full peer review process, Alan, aka. LoserPoints, aka. the top Hockey Man at RC has developed a new stat called “Super Shutouts.” I’ll let him explain. [Raw Charge]

But back to super shutouts, which, again, are a real thing that exists. A super shutout occurs when a goalie takes a shutout all the way through overtime and the shootout. That means no goals allowed in regulation, no goals allowed during the 3v3 Mountain Dew Extreme Overtime, and no goals allowed in the aggressively unsatisfying shootout.

The reviews are in on the new Tampa Bay Lightning third jerseys. Thought, I will say the comments in the last QS weren’t exactly the same as what TBT wrote in this piece. [Tampa Bay Times]

On those elements alone, the Adidas design team had the makings of a solid jersey. However, the person who suggested incorporating a gradient pattern on the sleeves should have been cross-checked. The sublimated “raindrop” pattern on the crest and numbers is fine — and better up-close — but the sleeves resemble TV static.

If you want to read up on how the black jersey was designed, The Athletic has an oral history out on it. [The Athletic]

But as the Lightning launch their “lifestyle line,” featuring a new black and gray theme with hats, shirts and even skateboards and (coming next year) paddleboards, they believe the look will resonate more with the next generation of fans. The team will wear the jerseys in six more Saturday games the rest of the season, starting Saturday against the Penguins.

Speaking of the jerseys, the Lightning will wear them every Saturday night for the rest of the season. The next game will be tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

And speaking of the Penguins, here is a preview of the game courtesy of Bryan Burns and NHL.com. [NHL dot com]

The Lightning are looking to avoid losing three games in a row for the first time this season and the first time since March 24-29, 2018.

Tampa Bay is aiming for its 40th win of the season tonight, which would give it six-consecutive 40-win seasons and 10 40-win seasons in franchise history.

The Lightning have recorded 82 points through 54 games, their most points through the first 54 games of a season in franchise history, bettering the previous mark of 77 points in 2017-18

The Prospects

The Syracuse Crunch went on the road and beat the Hartford Wolf Pack in a convincing 6-0 victory. Mitchell Stephens returned from injury and led the team with two goals of his own, extending his point streak that dated back to October 26th to five games. He hasn’t played much, okay. [Syracuse]

Pasquale earned his third consecutive win in net for the Crunch. Marek Mazanec stopped 26-of-30 between the pipes for the Wolf Pack. Syracuse was held scoreless on three power play opportunities, but went a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill.

This Taylor Raddysh goal was particularly lovely.

Oh, and in case you haven’t seen it, here is video fottage of the crane collapse that caused the delay in the Crunch’s bobblehead giveaway night. Wild stuff. Also, never go on a cruise off the coast of Vancouver. (I’m kidding, it’s lovely).

The Game

Artemi Panarin has officially changed agents. He will be joining the company and agent that currently represents his fellow pending-UFA teammate Sergei Bobrovsky. Coincidence? [Sportsnet]

Panarin, who leads the team in scoring, and Bobrovsky, a two-time Vezina trophy winning goaltender, would both be key pieces for the Blue Jackets as they push to make the playoffs. But both players have also indicated they plan on testing the free agent market this summer, leaving the Blue Jackets to decide if they should collect assets at the trade deadline or hold on to their stars.

Here are some stories that are criminally under the radar. First being the St. Louis Blues turning their season around. Second of ehich being the Colorado Avalanche doing the complete opposite. [Mile High Hockey]

From January 7th, the Blues instantly saw their goaltending turn a 180. They went from a .893 team to a .926 overnight. In the same time-frame, the Ducks — who wanted Johnson —saw their goaltending crash from a top-three sv% in the league (.916) to the third-worst (.876). Right away, this looks like a miracle, and it is, but there’s more to this story than just goaltending.

Lack of communication with the Ducks fanbase has led to rising anger

Highlight of the Night: Someone send that goalie to shortstop school. Glove on the dirt, and always make sure you have it before moving to throw.

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