Tampa Bay Lightning

Bolt Prospects' Mike Gallimore made it out to Lightning practice today and had the chance to chat with new Bolts coach Jon Cooper. Some notes:

* Cooper said Cory Conacher's limited minutes last night weren't punitive. He thought Conacher played well and noted Cory created a couple scoring chances.

* Conacher's and Pyatt's ice time got clipped due to Cooper's decision to go heavy with a couple lines, especially Killorn-Stamkos-St. Louis.

* Cooper volunteered that - despite 89's hot start - Conacher is still an unfinished product at the NHL level.

* The Lightning did a number of situational drills today, with particular emphasis on puck retrieval and zone exits.

* Cooper noted that the team is in flux and it's going to take time, but felt the team rebounded well after first period of "throwing pucks up the wall."

* Cooper praised new Lightning prospect Andrej Sustr for his debut. He said Sustr kept earning additional shifts. Cooper was impressed with how calm Sustr played in his NHL debut.

* Cooper was excited when talking about Alex Killorn. He said it took Killorn about 10 games last year in Norfolk to figure out the pro game - and then Killorn took off.

* Cooper said Killorn has been instrumental on the top line as puck retriever for St. Louis and Stamkos.

* The team scrimmaged 4-on-4 today. Cooper said it served as a fun activity, but also that he believes in preparing thoroughly for non-5v5 situations.

Jon Cooper knows the way to the pay window.

NJ-4
TB-5 (SO)

Mathieu Garon allowed 4 goals on 25 shots, but was 2 for 2 in the PS session for the victory. He was pretty dreadful tonight, but the Lightning picked him up.

First Period
NO SCORING

Second Period
05:50 NJ Loktionov (7), (D'Agostini, Greene)
06:41 NJ Kostopoulos (1), (unassisted)(PS)
08:00 TB Stamkos (24), (St. Louis, Aulie)
10:26 TB Thompson (7), (Panik, Gudas)
13:58 NJ Greene (3), (D'Agostini, Zidlicky)(PP)

Third Period
02:39 NJ Carter (4), (unassisted)(SH)
07:11 TB Stamkos (25), (Killorn)
19:44 TB Killorn (5), (Stamkos, Carle)

Overtime
NO SCORING

Shootout
NJ- NONE
TB- Purcell, Hedman

Steven Stamkos and Alex Killorn were the game's first and third stars. Coach Cooper saw just what a special player he inherits in Stamkos tonight. Everytime the Lightning looked ready to implode, Stammer got a big goal, and then he had the cool assist on Killorn's game tying tally with the extra attacker.

Love that the effort level is back from the entire team.

Killorn had 1 goal and 1 assist and was +2 with 2 shots, 1 hit, and 1 blocked shot in 20:52.

Andrej Sustr had 1 shot and 1 blocked shot in 13:07 in his NHL debut. High praise for a rookie defenseman: I didn't notice him.

Tyler Johnson had 1 hit and was 67% on draws in 14:26.

Richard Panik had a helper and was +1 with 1 shot in 12:25.

Ondrej Palat was +1 with 3 hits in 12:52.

Radko Gudas had a helper and was +1 with 7 penalty minutes, 2 shots, 6 hits, and 1 blocked shot in 15:23. Pretty standard for Radko's office hours.

Cory Conacher was +1 with 3 shots, 2 hits, and 1 blocked shot in 8:22.

Box score and extended statistics from NHL.com.

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 March 27 is … Tyler Johnson, C, Tampa Bay (NHL – USA).

Undrafted and undersized, Tyler Johnson has been huge for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Where's THAT been hiding the past 2 months.

BUF-1
TB-2

Mathieu Garon got the victory. All the computers were on the fritz at the Forum, so I don't trust what's posted on NHL.com.

First Period
16:01 TB Stamkos (23), (St. Louis)

Second Period
08:15 TB St. Louis (8), (Purcell, Stamkos)(PP)

Third Period
16:52 BUF Leopold (2), (Foligno, Flynn)

Steven Stamkos, Martin St. Louis, and Keith Aulie were the game's three stars.

I can't remember the last time the Lightning controlled a game like that, start to finish. They were sharp defensively. They were poised. It's like, with the coaching change, a giant weight was lifted off their chests. It makes you anxious to see what will happen when Jon Cooper actually steps behind the bench.

Box score from NHL.com.

TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have assigned defenseman Brian Lee to the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League, vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced today.

Lee, 26, has skated in 22 games for the Lightning this season, recording 16 penalty minutes. Lee ranks fifth on the club in hits with 49 and sixth with 28 blocked shots. The Moorhead, Minnesota native has appeared in 209 career NHL games, collecting five goals and 36 points with 124 penalty minutes.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound defenseman has played in 123 career AHL games, all with the Binghamton Senators, recording eight goals and 52 points.

Lee was originally acquired by the Lightning from the Ottawa Senators on February 26, 2012 in exchange for Matt Gilroy.