The Bolts
The Tampa Bay Lightning lost their 10-game winning streak at the hands of the Boston Bruins. Excuses aside, the team didn’t have the drive to get through the Bruins defense, and it showed on the ice and on the boxscore. It’s a shame the streak is gone, but they’ll have to start a new one on Saturday. [Raw Charge]
Boston destined for a first round showdown with the Leafs. If the Bolts can win their first-round series, they’ll face the winner. But before then, they have two more games with Boston before the end of the season. A chance to respond to this game and to build up the rivalry for a potential playoff meeting.
Before the game, the NHL staff writers took a vote and Andrei Vasilevskiy came out as the favorite for the George Vezina Trophy. He gained 75% of the votes, to boot. I think this is the year. [NHL dot com]
“Goaltenders can mask a lot of mistakes,” coach Jon Cooper said after Vasilevskiy made 20 saves to set the Lightning record with his 18th NHL shutout in a 3-0 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Feb. 16, his sixth shutout of the season. “[Vasilevskiy] has taken the baton and kept it going. Watching [Vasilevskiy] really just come into his own in this league at such a young age, I couldn’t be more happy for him.”
Keeping on the goalie train of thought, Joe Smith wrote a cool thing on backup Louis Domingue and his season.
‘It’s his turn’: Louis Domingue’s record streak and the life of a backup goaltender
Sure, it’s cool that the Lightning backup has won 11 consecutive starts. But it can also be a thankless job. And even boring, says @JoeSmithTB: https://t.co/XoYCfo1qDq pic.twitter.com/e6edRk19RQ
— The Athletic (@TheAthleticTB) February 28, 2019
Victor Hedman got to spend a day saying “how you doin” to a bunch of really big airplanes. He’s the second coolest person I know to get to do that!
Victor Hedman has been the deciding factor in each of the @TBLightning‘s last two games and is the all-time franchise leader in goals, assists, points and games played by a defenseman.
It’s time to take off for “Skates Off” with @heds77. pic.twitter.com/7SXvZnub6z
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 28, 2019
Oh, Marty. Don’t put that thought in my mind. I won’t be able to focus on anything else for the rest of the day. MSL, Vinny, and Kuch on a line? Honestly, that’s pretty damn close to heaven in my mind. The creativity, the power, the dynamism. It would be, frankly, shocking.
That’s real nice @86Kucherov, congrats! I would of love to see how us three would of produced together! I would of let you play the right side too and drive that net for you- and @VLecavalier4 would of cleaned it up for us and keep everybody honest on the ice. #respect https://t.co/KwOiLpQJ8q
— Martin St.Louis (@mstlouis_26) February 28, 2019
The Wakandan hockey player fanfic is back! Yolo Pinyato out-did themselves this time. [Raw Charge]
SHURI-BOT: A gold medalist, perennial MVP candidate and sure-fire Hall of Famer, Igilnla was one of the most talented stars in the dead puck era. He also came within a single game of being the first black captain to ever lead his team to the Stanley Cup, a feat nearly accomplished by his linemate and defensive stalwart Dirk Graham (also check that mustache!).
The Prospects
Goaltender Martin Ouellette has been recalled by the Syracuse Crunch in lieu of Eddie Pasquale’s illness. He is slated to get one of the three starts this weekend against Lehigh Valley and Rochester.
BriseBois said they want to take a look at Ouellette, so he will likely get a start this weekend
— Syracuse Hockey (@syrhockey) February 28, 2019
Coach Benoit Groulx gave an update on his roster below.
“I really like where we’re at physically and mentally.”#SyrCrunch head coach Ben Groulx discusses a heavy March schedule, injury updates and shaking up lines. pic.twitter.com/ytGMNC1nzw
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) February 28, 2019
The Crunch also spent the day at the offices of one of their sponsors, shooting a commercial. I gotta say, the pictures are hilarious. Just look at Oleg Sosunov!
Stick taps to OneGroup for letting us disrupt the office today. 👏
We can’t wait for this video to hit your screens. pic.twitter.com/jM43hdQJn9
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) February 28, 2019
The Game
A former Edmonton Oiler, and a future former Edmonton Oiler both need lower-body surgery and will likely be gone for the rest of the season. In other news, hockey “journalists” in Edmonton continue to not be smart. C’mon, Jim.
Earlier this week, Devils’ Taylor Hall underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. Still too early to know if or when he will be back this season.
— John Shannon (@JSportsnet) February 28, 2019
Jesse Puljujarvi will not play again this season. He will have hip surgery next week. #Oilers #NHL
— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) February 28, 2019
Jim, it has come to my attention that you are not a doctor
— Hardev Lad (@HardevLad) February 28, 2019
Mats Zuccarello leaving the New York Rangers was taken pretty hard by more people than just Henrik Lundqvist. A lot of fans expect the Norwegian to return to start next season. In the meantime, Shayna wrote a very nice synopsis of him as a player. Numbers and all. [Blue Shirt Banter]
Mats Zuccarello’s value to the New York Rangers, and in general, the hockey world, spans much deeper than his 352 points in 509 regular season games show. It also transcends what the team gained in trading the right winger.
For both his actions on and off the ice, Zuccarello emerged as a part of the Rangers’ core and quickly became a fan favorite — even more so in Norway, where his success in the NHL has already changed the landscape of hockey in his home country.
Great news on the Mirco Mueller injury front. If you haven’t seen the moment from Wednesday night, go look it up. Squeamish warning.
— Mirco Mueller (@muellermirco) February 28, 2019
The caption speaks for itself.
WARNING: Heart-melting content 💛 pic.twitter.com/Rr3dQRJUCZ
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 28, 2019
Highlight of the Night: Jonathan Quick isn’t helping the Los Angeles Kings tank, clearly.
Hello, 911? We’d like to report a robbery. pic.twitter.com/GbDrMLQfQ5
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) March 1, 2019
