This season’s injuries to the forward corps has really pushed the Lightning organization to the limits of depth and the Syracuse Crunch have felt the pinch too. Not only were Lightning players getting injured and needing to be replaced, but some of their replacements (Joel Vermin and Yanni Gourde) were getting injured too. Cedric Paquette and J.T. Brown recently returned to action while Brian Boyle missed a game with injury. But it sounds like Boyle and Tyler Johnson are ready to go tonight as news has come down from the team that Mike Angelidis and Mike Blunden have been re-assigned to the Syracuse Crunch.
LIGHTNING REASSIGN MIKE ANGELIDIS, MIKE BLUNDEN TO SYRACUSE
TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have reassigned forwards Mike Angelidis and Mike Blunden to the Syracuse Crunch today, vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced.Angelidis, 30, has skated in four games with the Bolts this season, posting one goal and five penalty minutes. He scored his second career NHL goal on December 20 against the Ottawa Senators in the Lightning’s 5-2 victory. The Woodbridge, Ontario native has appeared in 14 career NHL games, all with the Lightning over four seasons, posting a pair of goals and 22 penalty minutes.
The Crunch captain has also skated in 22 games with Syracuse this season, posting two goals and eight points to go along with 24 penalty minutes. Angelidis has played in 601 career AHL games, recording 121 goals and 253 points to go along with 1,241 penalty minutes. He also won the Calder Cup as a member of the Norfolk Admirals in 2012.
Blunden, 29, has played in nine games with the Lightning this season, recording two goals and four points with a plus-4 rating. He averaged 8:13 in ice time per game.
The Toronto native has skated in 20 games with the Crunch this season, posting five goals and nine points to go along with 26 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-4, 217-pound forward ranks tied for third on Syracuse for goals and is tied for eighth for points. He has played in 432 career AHL games over his 11-year pro career, recording 101 goals and 218 points.
While playing fourth line roles, Mike and Mike played as well as could be asked for as depth players. Now they’ll be able to return to Syracuse and give them a much needed boost offensively and in the locker room as they get their Captain and a veteran back in action.
