The Bolts
2016-17 Season Breakdown: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Columbus Blue Jackets. “Not only did they take all six points in the season series, they also ruined Marty St. Louis night. That’s just rude. There was nothing redeeming about any of the three games (how could their be when the Lightning were outscored 13-5), in fact the losses represent some of the lowest points of the season.” [Raw Charge]
Best of the Bolts: The Championship. It’s Jonathan Drouin vs Jonathan Drouin for the top spot. “Voting for your favorite play of the 2016-17 Lightning season concludes with the week-long championship match.” [Tampa Bay Lightning]
The Crunch
The Syracuse Crunch lost 3-2 to the Grand Rapids Griffins last night and now trail the Calder Cup Final series 3-1. “Cory Conacher (being the lovable honey badger that he is) won a puck battle behind the Griffins net to establish possession for Syracuse. Conacher then fed a pass to Yanni Gourde who held the puck for a quick second, looked at Coreau and then sniped one past the Griffins netminder to put the Crunch on the board with 9:15 left in the second.” [Raw Charge]
Jake Dotchin takes lessons learned from Tampa Bay to Syracuse. “I learned tons playing with [Victor] Hedman and tons from (Lightning associate coach) Rick Bowness, the coaching staff there, they kind of just helped me feel comfortable down there and let me play my game. To come back here and kind of help and send that to other guys’ directions, it was something I kind of embraced when I was a younger guy as well.” [Tampa Bay Lightning]
Anthony Cirelli has played for four different teams this year – he started with the Oshawa Generals of the OHL, joined Team Canada at the World Juniors, was traded to the Erie Otters (where he helped win the OHL Championship) and now he’s a regular in the Syracuse Crunch lineup. “All the guys that I’ve been fortunate enough to play with have been great to me and welcomed me with open arms on every team. They made the adjustments a lot easier.” [Tampa Bay Lightning]
The Game
For hockey fan fighting cancer, following Predators’ Stanley Cup chase is a matter of life. “Christina Wynter lives to see her beloved Nashville Predators win… Back in 2014 when Wynter learned she had advanced cancer and might live only another six months, she decided she wasn’t dying at least until she watched the Predators hoist the Stanley Cup.” [The Orange County Register]
Former Lightning player Ryan Craig will be behind the bench for the NHL’s newest team. “I am proud to add Ryan as an assistant coach,” said Vegas Golden Knights Head Coach Gerard Gallant. “He is well-respected in the hockey community and has been a tremendous leader throughout his playing career, both on and off the ice. I am confident that the leadership characteristics he exuded as a player will translate well behind the bench in his new role as an assistant coach.” [Vegas Golden Knights]
“The Philadelphia Flyers have locked up one of their star attractions, officially inking defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere to a multi-year contract extension. Financial terms were not disclosed, but TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that it’s a six-year deal worth $27 million, which works out to $4.5-million annually — or the relatively standard rate for quality middle-pair defensemen.” [Puck Daddy]
