News

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.

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.

(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.

Official Recap | Box Score

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.

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.