The Bolts
How did the Triplets do in last night’s Tampa Bay Lightning game vs. Columbus? They set up the first goal from Victor Hedman, with Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov both finding the scoresheet. And That Line scored the last dagger in the heart, with Nikita Kucherov netting his first of the season off an assist from Ondrej Palat.
.@TBLightning forward @86Kucherov lights the lamp with his first goal of the season, 7-2 lead over the Columbus Blue Jackets! 🚨 #NHL #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/5SRt39xBnG
— FOX Sports Florida (@FOXSportsFL) October 14, 2018
Read more in last night’s recap. [Raw Charge]
Yesterday, Geo speculated on the change to the lineup: Tampa Bay Lightning hoping for a better reunion with the Triplets this time [Raw Charge]
During the 2014-15 season, the Triplets spent just shy of 668 minutes together. As a unit, they posted an impressive 57.6% Corsi For percentage with a 5.97% Relative CF Percentage. They dominated offensively and were quite effective defensively due to the amount of time that they spent in the offensive zone. They put up a 67.61% Goals For Percentage. They outperformed their expected goals for percentage, and even that was an impressive 60.14%. Without a doubt, they were spectacular.
And Joe Smith also speculated on the lineup: The Lightning’s ‘Triplets’ are back together — can they recreate the magic of 2015? [The Athletic, paid content]
Kucherov, without a point in the first two games, could use a kick-start. He missed most of the preseason with a lower-body injury, but he said he felt better Thursday after racking up seven shot attempts. Kucherov had been playing with Steven Stamkos but was open to this switch.
Alex Killorn also scored his first of the season!
.@TBLightning forward @Akillorn19 beats the goalie with a one-timer for his first goal of the season, 6-2 lead! #NHL #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/rH8PCxJLu4
— FOX Sports Florida (@FOXSportsFL) October 14, 2018
So why was the team not productive through the first two games of the season? Bryan Burns chatted with the team about it: Chances there, goals aren’t for Lightning through two games [Tampa Bay Lightning]
”When you don’t score like we have in the first couple games, it’s tough sometimes to just get back to the basics but it really is as simple as that. So we’ll look to just get in front of the net, go to those areas tonight and just direct some pucks at the net.”
Steven Marowski of The Hockey Writers anticipated how last night’s power play would go. Good job, Steven: Lightning Need Sergachev on the Power Play [THW]
Tampa Bay needs to start utilizing Sergachev’s strong skating and creativity to jumpstart the Lightning power play that can be one of the best in the league at its best.
The Prospects
Last night was the first Syracuse Crunch game of the season. Aside from the score, everything else was great.
The Crunch lost 4-1 to Charlotte but Oleg Sosunov scored his first career pro goal. [Bolt Prospects]
The Solar Bears also had their first game of the season, and it proved to be full of penalties: Discipline dooms Solar Bears in season opener. [Pro Hockey News]
The silver season. 👊 pic.twitter.com/N9rwdw9Zbi
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) October 13, 2018
Introducing your 2018-19 @SyracuseCrunch. pic.twitter.com/D4deEOwdID
— Tracey Lake (@trace_1114) October 13, 2018
Special treat tonight for @SyracuseCrunch 25th home opener. Individual who performed as original Crunchman on September 30, 1994 is coming out of retirement for one last appearance in the old barn. What a thrill for him and us. Thanks A.L.
— Howard Dolgon (@HowardDolgon) October 13, 2018
Why wouldn’t you go throwback for the 25th @SyracuseCrunch opener? pic.twitter.com/0tvFQDDPCf
— Shane Boo!! Aah!!! (@ThatShaneBua) October 13, 2018
The Game
A look at Team Canada’s 4 Nations roster [The Ice Garden]
“This will be a good test for our players and program as we enter into a new four-year cycle leading into the next Olympics,” Gina Kingsbury, Hockey Canada’s director of women’s national teams, shared in the program’s press release. “We have a committed and determined group of players looking to establish themselves as the top hockey nation among the best nations in the world.”
Fantasy Hockey cheat sheet: Players to target — and avoid [The Athletic, paid content]
Keeper league candidate: Mikhail Sergachev was among the top scoring rookie defensemen a year ago and will only get better (and more power play time).
Barbara DiMarco joined the #NJDevils family in 1988. For the first few decades, her brother attended with her. When he passed away, her son, Garrett joined her for every game. This past June, she lost him too. Our #NJDMemory team surprised her on Thursday with a custom jersey… pic.twitter.com/iNjrvxYg3z
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) October 13, 2018
Hilary Knight wants to finish what she started last season in Montreal [THN]
“As a competitor you come here and you play against them and the way that they’re treated and respected, the fans, how passionate everyone is about the organization, it really speaks volumes,” Knight said. “That’s something I wanted to be a part of.”
