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BoltProspects: Did speak with Ondrej Palat, who made his home debut tonight. Couldn't resist mentioning he's loving the weather. #ButStillLovesYouSyracuse

BoltProspects: Didn't get a chance to talk to him tonight but Alex Killorn set yet another new high mark with 21:38 of ice time. #MA-CHINE

BoltProspects: Particularly in relation to the goalie play TB endured for most of the 1st half of last season.

BoltProspects: Just think: if TB had gotten tonight's results from Lindback (2 GA, .929 SV%) in 75% of his starts so far, we'd be talking wunderkind.

BoltProspects: @QuickNESS15 Malone also made a nice play hustling to the puck, winning a battle and zipping a pass to 26 who fed 91 for TB's lone goal.

BoltProspects: @PaulFox13 He didn't steal the game but did give TB a chance to win. That's all we were asking for last season, wasn't it?

BoltProspects: @QuickNESS15 Thought Malone looked pretty good tonight. Kept up with the play, physical presence and strong on the puck. Played his game.

BoltProspects: 1 goal isn't going to win you many games in this league. It's not like TB wasn't without its share of quality chances. Couldn't pot them.

BoltProspects: After potting 5 goals against NJ, TB could only muster 1 tonight. Went 0-5 on the PP, including a full 5v3. There's the real story, folks.

BoltProspects: So, if we're going to whine about the 2nd goal, at least lament the play of all involved.

BoltProspects: Whether or not Lindback could have played that better, the skaters playing in front of him did not prevent Little from getting there.

BoltProspects: Little was able to peel in from the boards, drive the net nominally contested and shake free for a glorious chance in alone on Lindback.

BoltProspects: Personally, was more disappointed in the 1st goal Lindback allowed than the 2nd.

BoltProspects: RT @MikeCorcoranNHL: I know many will point elsewhere, but the power play not coming up with anything on the 5 on 3 power play is the bi ...

The Tampa Bay Lightning and the Lightning Foundation will hold the 12th annual Bolt Run, presented by vitaminwater®, benefitting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, on Saturday, March 9 with the first race starting at 7 a.m. Race day registration and...

The Lightning return home this week to play five of the next six at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, which in my mind, is absolutely huge if they’re going to make a surge and jump right back into the playoff picture. People always ask me what makes t...

The National Hockey League will present its proposed realignment plan to the Board of Governors after receiving consent from the National Hockey League Players' Association on Thursday. If approved, the League's new realignment plan will go int...

Bolts vs. Jets Game Updates

TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning honored Barry and Lori Torman as the 27th Lightning Community Heroes of the year during the first period of tonight's game against the Winnipeg Jets. The Tormans, who received a $50,000 donation from the Lightni...

The Lightning should get a boost tonight against the Jets when left wing Ryan Malone returns to the lineup after missing 13 games with a lower-body injury.

“It feels good,” Malone said. “I think we just took our time with it and went through the rehab properly. So, it feels good, and I’m excited to get back for a big game.”

Malone, 33, was hurt before the Feb. 10 game at the Rangers during the team’s usual soccer ball kick-around. Malone said he aggravated an existing condition when he tried to kick the ball.

It took so Malone so long to get back, he said, because the team wanted him completely healed before he got back on the ice. A good plan as Malone has been injury prone. He has not played more than 70 games in any of his four previous Tampa Bay seasons, and in 20010-11 played only 54.

“We didn’t want to come back too early for any reason,” Malone said. “You want to do everything you can to help the team, but you want to make sure you do everything you can not to get injured again.”

“Nothing is like a game,” Malone added, “but as much body contact as I could get in practice, we did. I’m fully healed and ready.”

Expect Malone, who has four goals and five points in 10 games, to take his usual turns on the power play and penalty kill, though coach Guy Boucher said he will monitor Malone’s minutes.

“He hasn’t played in a long timer, so I have to be smart and give him the minutes he can manager,” Boucher said. “I’m going to have to hold it back a little bit so he can look good on the ice.”

Other stuff from the morning skate: With Malone back in the lineup, sounds as if forward Adam Hall will be scratched. … Center Steven Stamkos, with a league-best 17 goals, did not skate but is expected to play. Boucher said Stamkos simply deserved a rest. … Defensemen Marc-Ander Bergeron and Brendan Mikkelson also will be scratched. … As expected, Anders Lindback will be in net against Winnipeg. … Goaltender Mathieu Garon on Wednesday had an MRI exam on the lower body injury that forced him out of Monday’s game at Pittsburgh. He said the exam came back all clear and he will skate Friday and then re-evaluate. … Captain Vinny Lecavalier’s production has fallen off recently, but it coincides with his left foot injury, sustained Feb. 2, when he took a slap shot from teammate Sami Salo flush off the left foot. Lecavalier has two goals and nine points in 15 games since then. Before the injury he had four goals and 11 points in eight games. “It’s been tough for him,” Boucher said. “It affects his push-off, it affects his timing. Eventually, it’s his confidence. He was just trying to survive out there.” But Lecavalier has shown signs of a rebound with three assists in his past two games. His two-point effort Tuesday at New Jersey was his best overall since his injury. “I definitely feel stronger now,” he said. “It feels better every day.” Asked if a game or two off would have helped, Lecavalier said sitting out was never seriously considered, especially with the team struggling. “You want to be part of it,” he said. “You want to keep pushing through as a player. You ask any guys in this room. If the same thing happened, they would do the same thing. They want to keep playing and want to keep going.” … Rookie Cory Conacher said the head shot he took Tuesday from New Jersey’s Cam Janssen “hurt a little” but “I tried to get up as fast as I could to show no pain.” Janssen left his feet and used his shoulder to hit Conacher. Janssen got a charging penalty. There was no supplementary discipline from the league. “It was my fault for not guarding myself a little better and expecting the hit,” Conacher said, and added about teammate Victor Hedman confronting Janssen, “It’s the type of teammate you want. It’s important to have guys like that on your team. It shows a lot of character. You have to appreciate him doing that for me. … Terry Crisp, the Lightning’s first coach and now a television analyst for the Predators, will be honored at tonight’s game as part of Tampa Bay’s 20th anniversary celebration.

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