Printer-friendly versionAHL Game Night: 4-19-13 Admirals at Crunch
Submitted by pete on April 19, 2013 - 21:38
Wow. I feel like we need to issue a formal apology to all our friends in Norfolk for that savage beat down tonight.
NOR-1
SYR-6
Cedrick Desjardins allowed 1 goal on 27 shots for the victory. For those wondering, Pat Nagle has been backing up Desjardins because Riku Helenius had some family issues back in Finland that required attention. Hopefully Riku will be back for the playoffs.
First Period
SYR Angelidis, (11) (Wyman, Brown), 14:20
SYR Johnson, (34) (Sexton, Wyman), 14:58
SYR Wyman, (13) (Palat, Johnson), 19:02
Second Period
SYR Namestnikov, (7) (Devos, Connolly), 11:56
NOR Maroon, (25) (Guenin), 13:32
SYR Johnson, (35) (Palat, Sexton), 19:11
Third Period
SYR Johnson, (36) , 7:48
Tyler Johnson, J.T. Wyman, and Mike Angelidis were the game's three stars. The freshly minted AHL MVP, Johnson, celebrated with an incredible 3 goal, 4 point effort to start off a 3 game weekend set that will be so critical for playoff position.
Brian Lee was +4 in the contest. Several members of the Bolt Prospects message board's heads just exploded after reading that. Mind you, he also took a major for slashing and got kicked out of the game. I would suspect a suspension may follow.
Two games remain in the regular season. Providence toppled Springfield tonight 5-3, which clinches the top seed in the East for Providence. However, with Springfield going down and Syracuse winning, the Crunch now move to within 2 points of the Falcons with a game in hand. The Crunch also expanded their division lead over Binghamton to 3 points after Bingo lost to Manchester tonight. Each team has 2 games left on their schedules, including the head-to-head matchup Sunday. The loss for Norfolk was a particularly bad one with the Admirals, at this moment, in a 4-way tie at 79 points for one of the last 2 playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. How deeply ironic would it be if Syracuse had to face Norfolk in the first round? That prospect looks much more remote after tonight, but it's still at least on the edge of the table right now.
So here's the schedule for Saturday: Springfield draws Adirondack (eliminated from playoff contention), Binghamton gets Hershey (one of the clubs in that 4-way tie), and Syracuse gets Worcester (eliminated from playoff contention). Syracuse can make the division elementary with a win, thereby clinching not less than the 3 seed for the playoffs. Jumping Springfield may be a harder task for the Crunch with the Falcons likely holding the tiebreak at the finish line with a 2 game lead in the regulation win column right now.
Some other accounting issues heading into the end of the regular season:
- Syracuse still leads the AHL in goals scored by 10.
- Tyler Johnson is 8th in the AHL in scoring and Brett Connolly is currently tied for 10th.
- Mark Barberio is in 6th amongst AHL defensemen in scoring.
- Johnson also leads the league in goals by 3 with Connolly tied for 4th.
- Johnson is also 6th in power play goals.
- Connolly is tied for tops in game winning goals.
- Ondrej Palat is tied for 8th in the league in helpers.
- Despite being in Tampa for about a month, Radko Gudas is still 6th in the AHL in penalty minutes.
- Gudas is also still leading the league in +/- with teammates Johnson, Palat, and J.P. Cote all tied for 3rd. Dmitry Korobov is tied for 8th.
- Barberio is 9th in the league in shots on goal.
Box score from TheAHL.com.
NHL Game Night: 4-18-13 Lightning at Canadiens
Submitted by pete on April 18, 2013 - 21:28
Another respectable, competitive effort in garbage time of the season.
TB-2
MTL-3
Ben Bishop allowed 3 goals on 35 shots for the loss.
First Period
NO SCORING
Second Period
04:04 MTL Galchenyuk (9), (Gallagher, Drewiske)
15:05 MTL Gionta (13), (Plekanec, Pacioretty)
17:36 TB Panik (5), (Hedman, Killorn)(PP)
Third Period
05:07 TB Lecavalier (10), (Pouliot, Hedman)
19:13 MTL Gionta (14), (Weber, Ryder)
At this stage of the season, I'm looking for effort and competitiveness more so than wins. Baby steps.
With 4 goals and 19 points now in 40 games, we can start to take a peek at what Victor Hedman might be at in an 82 game season. It comes out to a very respectable 8 goal, 39 point season. Bear in mind Hedman's gotten a greener light since Cooper took over behind the bench, which is why I'd expect his scoring pace to pick up.
Alex Killorn had a helper and was +1 with 2 shots, 2 hits, and 2 blocked shots in 13:08. It's been interesting to see his ice time slowly turned down. Projected over 82 games, Killorn's 7 goals and 19 points in 34 games pro-rates to 17 goals and 46 points. Pretty good rookie numbers.
Richard Panik had a goal and was -1 with 3 shots, 4 hits, and 2 blocked shots in 10:59. That scoring line on his power play goal, being assisted by Killorn and Hedman, was like a telegram from the future. It's a much smaller sample set of 22 games, but his 5 goals and 9 points projects to about 19 goals and 34 points in an 82 game season, which is pretty good given how small his average ice time numbers are. It might be hard to consider holding him off the team next season.
Radko Gudas was -1 with 1 shot, 3 hits, and 1 blocked shot in 20:35.
Pierre-Cedric Labrie played 10:19.
Box score and extended statistics from NHL.com.
KHL Playoff Game Day: 4-17-13
Submitted by pete on April 17, 2013 - 19:59
KHL Playoffs (Russia):
Gagarin Cup Finals
Chelyabinsk 2 vs. Dynamo Moscow 3 (OT)
Dynamo Moscow Wins the Series 4-2
Dynamo Moscow Wins the Gagarin Cup
Nikita Nesterov, Chelyabinsk, 0-0-0, E, 0 PIM, 0 SOG
Playoff totals: 19 GP, 0-4-4, -3, 6 PIM
Regular season totals (KHL): 35 GP, 0-1-1, +6, 14 PIM
Regular season totals (MHL): 2 GP, 0-0-0, E, 0 PIM
Alexei Tsvetkov scored 5:57 into Overtime to lift Dynamo Moscow to a 3-2 Gagarin Cup clinching victory in Game Six of their series with Traktor Chelyabinsk. Lightning prospect Nikita Nesterov was scoreless in 18:26 of ice time on the blueline for Traktor. Ex-Lightning draft pick Marek Kvapil had a helper in the victory for Dynamo. Potential top-10 pick and Chelyabinsk forward Valery Nichushkin will now join Russia's U18 World Junior Championships team. The game marks the end of the European prospect season for Bolt Prospects.
Prospect of the Week: April 17, 2013
Submitted by chad on April 17, 2013 - 16:45
We continue our Prospect of the Week award, an honor (virtually) given to one Tampa Bay Lightning prospect for their recent contributions on and off the ice.
The Prospect of the Week for April 17 is … Nikita Kucherov, W, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL – Canada).
Karma, thy name is Kucherov.
NHL Game Night: 4-16-13 Lightning at Jets
Submitted by pete on April 16, 2013 - 22:12
Semi-respectable result in garbage time of the season.
TB-3
WPG-4 (SO)
Ben Bishop allowed 3 goals on 36 shots but then allowed 2 of 3 to score in the penalty shot for the old SOL.
First Period
01:23 WPG Ladd (17), (Wheeler, Little)
10:27 TB St. Louis (12), (unassisted)
Second Period
08:37 WPG Wheeler (16), (Ladd, Bogosian)
17:54 WPG Ladd (18), (Wheeler, Bogosian)(PP)
Third Period
05:19 TB Labrie (2), (Thompson, Gudas)
11:17 TB Stamkos (27), (Carle)
Overtime
NO SCORING
Shootout
TB- NONE
WPG- Santorelli, Ladd
Winnipeg should consider themselves extremely fotunate to have survived Tampa Bay's deployment of the secret weapon, P.C. Labrie.
Alex Killorn had 1 shot, 1 hit, and 1 blocked shot in 17:39.
Richard Panik was +1 with 1 shot, 4 hits, and 1 blocked shot in 15:56. Interesting to see his ice time nudging up toward Killorn's.
Radko Gudas had a helper, 1 shot, 3 hits, and 2 blocked shots in 16:11.
Pierre-Cedric Labrie laid waste to a Pavelec rebound and all in his path for a goal, a +1 rating, 2 shots, and 3 hits in 10:49. If he gave Labrie anymore ice time, Cooper would have to turn himself in for war crimes.
Box score and extended statistics from NHL.com.
ECHL Playoff Game Night: 4-15-13
Submitted by mike on April 16, 2013 - 09:30
(4)Florida Everblades 6 vs. (5)Elmira Jackals 2
Quarterfinals: Florida wins the best-of-seven series 4-2
D Charles Landry, FLA: 0-0-0, +1, 0 SOG, 0 PIM
Playoff totals: 6 GP, 0-1-1, -1, 4 PIM
Season totals: 51 GP, 4-12-16, +7, 33 PIM
Florida clinched an opening series victory in the comfy confines of German Arena by drawing first blood early, then adding three more goals in the opening frame to build a 4-1 lead that Elmira was unable to overcome. Unlike the previous game, the Everblades had little difficulty generating offense, managing to pump out double-digit shot totals (in sum, 37) in all three periods. Florida also won the special teams battle, going 2-for-5 with the man advantage while stonewalling Elmira on all three of its power play opportunities. Jesse Deckert stopped 19 of 21 Jackals shots in the contest. Florida advances to the semifinals where it will face Reading. The Everblades will begin the seven-game series on the road, with the first match against the Royals coming Friday night.
KHL Playoff Game Day: 4-15-13
Submitted by pete on April 15, 2013 - 20:45
KHL Playoffs (Russia):
Gagarin Cup Finals:
Dynamo Moscow 3 vs. Chelyabinsk 4
Dynamo Moscow Leads the Series 3-2
Nikita Nesterov, Chelyabinsk, 0-1-1, E, 0 PIM, 0 SOG
Playoff totals: 18 GP, 0-4-4, -3, 6 PIM
Regular season totals (KHL): 35 GP, 0-1-1, +6, 14 PIM
Regular season totals (MHL): 2 GP, 0-0-0, E, 0 PIM
Ex-NHLer Andrei Kostitsyn's goal with 4:58 left in regulation lifted Traktor Chelyabinsk to a 4-3, Game Five win over Dynamo Moscow. The series is extended to Game Six. Lightning prospect Nikita Nesterov again showed his flexibility by playing some forward. He played 11:21 in the match, going 17% on 7 draws and assisting on a First Period, even strength goal. Ex-Lightning draft pick Marek Kvapil continued his strong Finals by posting 1 goal and 1 assist in defeat for Dynamo. Despite previous indications he might leave Traktor to join Team Russia for the upcoming U18 World Junior Championships, potential top-10 pick Valery Nichushkin did suit up and was scoreless in 16:45 in the game. Game Six is Wednesday.
Lightning Give Bishop 2-Year Extension
Submitted by timothy on April 15, 2013 - 15:28
TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed goaltender Ben Bishop to a two-year contract extension today, vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced.
Bishop, 6-foot-7, 214 pounds, has played in six games with the Lightning after being acquired from the Ottawa Senators at the April 3 trade deadline. He has posted a 2-3-0 record with a .916 save percentage and a 3.21 goals-against average. Bishop made his Bolts debut on April 4 at Carolina, stopping all 45 shots he faced for a shutout. He was the second goalie in franchise history to post a shutout in his Lightning debut (Dwayne Roloson, January 4, 2011) and tied the franchise record for most saves in a shutout (Daren Puppa, November 27, 1995). He has played in a total of 19 games this season with Tampa Bay and Ottawa, recording a 10-8-0 record with a .920 save percentage, 2.68 goals-against average and two shutouts.
NHL Game Night: 4-14-13 Lightning at Sabres
Submitted by pete on April 14, 2013 - 18:46
Feel the Nichushkin-mentum.
TB-1
BUF-3
Mathieu Garon allowed 3 goals on 22 shots for the loss including his obligatory 1 that he'd want back.
First Period
04:09 BUF Ennis (10), (Vanek, Ehrhoff)(PP)
Second Period
08:00 BUF Hecht (4), (Gerbe)
12:37 BUF Porter (4), (Flynn, Ott)
13:30 TB Pouliot (8), (Brewer, Lecavalier)
Third Period
NO SCORING
The Lightning outshot Buffalo 33-22 with most of that coming once they spotted the Sabres the 3 goal lead. I have no idea what sort of weird sports psychology issue makes a team only start playing harder once they fall behind big. It's bizarre. That's something for Jon Cooper to sort out in the offseason. In the meantime, the Lightning will be looking at one of the big three draft prospects or possibly Traktor Chelyabinsk power forward Valery Nichushkin in their future.
Alex Killorn had 3 shots in 20:26.
Richard Panik was -2 with 2 shots and 1 hit. The biggest challenge for a young player isn't proving you can be brilliant as Panik was last night. The biggest challenge is proving you can do it consistently, and Panik was a non-factor tonight.
Radko Gudas was -1 with 5 hits and 2 blocked shots in 17:40.
Box score and extended statistics from NHL.com.
ECHL Playoff Game Night: 4-13-13
Submitted by mike on April 14, 2013 - 10:49
(4)Florida Everblades 1 @ (5)Elmira Jackals 5
Quarterfinals: Florida leads the best-of-seven series 3-2
D Charles Landry, FLA: 0-0-0, -1, 0 SOG, 2 PIM (tripping)
Playoff totals: 5 GP, 0-1-1, -1, 4 PIM
Season totals: 51 GP, 4-12-16, +7, 33 PIM
After beating Elmira twice in its own barn to push the Jackals to the brink of elimination, Florida came up well short in its first shot at clinching a series victory, falling 4-0 before mustering its first and only goal past the midpoint of the third period. The Everblades managed 28 shots in the game but had difficulty generating offense until the game was well out of reach, as only 11 of those came through the first two frames. Both clubs ended the match 1-for-5 with the man advantage. Jesse Deckert stopped 24 of 28 Jackals shots. Both clubs will next head back to Estero for the remainder of the series, with Game 6 to be played Monday night.
