Tampa Bay Lightning

Maybe you've noticed over the past few days that Raw Charge and other sites on the SB Nation network have been having technical difficulties? They've been loading, but have been sporadic. Network issues had hit not only SB Nation but it's sister network sites - TheVerge.com and Polygon.com. As of around 4:30 EDT this morning, those issues should be resolved, with thanks and praise to the Vox Media tech team who have been trying to remedy things for the majority of the week. Tampa Bay Lightning News Earlier this week, Martin St. Louis was nominated for the Lady Byng [Bolts by the Bay] Bolt Prospects gives out a weekly "Prospect of the Week" award for the top player in the Lightning system (...below the NHL team level). This week, the accolade goes to three players and not just one [Bolt Prospects] Syracuse Crunch News The Crunch have swept their way into the Eastern Conference Finals [Syracuse.com] Wanna see highlights? Clicky! Clicky! [YouTube Syracuse Crunch channel] Syracuse has gone 7-0 in the playoffs thus far, which is an AHL record. The Lightning's AHL affiliate has swept the past four playoff series, dating back to last year's Norfolk Admirals [Syracuse.com] Eric Neilsen should not look into a career as a lounge singer any time soon [Syracuse.com] Alex does not approve of Chairman How's venting on fan turnout [Chairman How's Glorious Army] NHL and General Hockey News We mentioned the OHL grand finale playoff game was Monday night, and forgot to tell you the end result on Tuesday: The London Knights beat the Barrie Colts with a tenth of a second left in regulation. [Toronto Sun] BB&T Center - aka the Litter Box in South Florida - is getting a new scoreboard...on the public dime. [Miami Herald] The scandal with Mayor Rob Ford in Toronto has raised the spectacle that a prominent hockey analyst is a crackhead... In which case Battle of California points out five specific hockey analysts who could (or probably are) smoking crack [Battle of California] Developer Bruce Ratner suggests the NHL would approve of the relocated Islanders to play six home games a season at Nassau Coliseum after they move to Brooklyn [Islanders Point Blank] These 2013 NHL mock drafts are starting to get odd; either it's turning into anyone's-guess after the #1 pick, or people don't know much about organizational needs / wants. [DC Mock Draft Database] The United States squares off with undefeated Switzerland today in the IIHF World Championships, here's a preview [The United States of Hockey] The finalists for the Jack Adams Award (given to the top coach in the NHL) were announced yesterday. Mike Keenan, Ted Nolan and Terry Crisp were not among them. [SB Nation] NBC is carrying today's Chicago Blackhawks / Detroit Red Wings playoff game... They are also carrying the Preakness Stakes later this afternoon. What happens if the game goes to overtime? Will it be pre-empted by horsies? [Steve Lepore Via Twitter]

By Jeremy Houghtaling With a one goal lead and the third period winding down, Matt Taormina found the puck on his stick and looked for an open shot. After his first attempt was blocked, the Syracuse Crunch defenseman drove toward the net wristed another toward the Springfield Falcons' net. He lost track of it there. "I shot and I didn't hear anything until the crowd reacted," Taormina said. "I finally knew it actually went in." The goal put the exclamation point on Syracuse's 5-2 win in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at the Onondaga County War Memorial Friday, as the Crunch swept the Falcons 4-0 to move on to the conference finals. "They were pressing, they could feel it," Syracuse coach Rob Zettler said of Springfield. "Then Taormina steps up and scores that goal, it's huge. It put a stamp on it for us." read more

Syracuse punches their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals, and they've made it look easy to this point. SPR-2 SYR-5 Syracuse Wins the Series 4-0 Cedrick Desjardins allowed 2 goals on 30 shots for the victory. First Period SYR Wyman, (1) (Devos), 6:04 SYR Barberio, (3) (Namestnikov, Panik), 7:52 Second Period SPR Craig, (2) (Savard, Jenner), 2:38 (PP) SYR Wyman, (2) (Brown, Cote), 17:20 Third Period SPR Joudrey, (1) (Savard, Jenner), 8:35 SYR Taormina, (1) (Connolly), 9:45 SYR Sexton, (2) (Namestnikov), 18:01 (EN) J.T. Wyman, Mark Barberio, and Matt Taormina were the game's three stars. You would think with the PTP line held to just 1 point that Springfield would finally get a win in the series, right? Wrong. Syracuse's second and third lines carried the mail and delivered the squad to the next round. The core of this team that was also in Norfolk for their championship run last season, AKA SyraNo, has won 17 straight playoff games. It's a ridiculous level of success that will be difficult for the league and the media to officially recognize because of the affiliation change. But, it's one of those things that really, in my opinion, gives this group the argument to say they're one of the best in league history. In fact, if they "repeat", I'd say they probably are the best multi-season collection of players in AHL history. Syracuse's next opponent will probably be top seeded Providence, which holds a 3-1 series lead over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton after a Penguins win tonight. This is where taking care of an opponent and getting the sweep can pay dividends. Every game Wilkes-Barre/Scranton can extend that series depletes Providence's energy and possibly leads to more injuries while Syracuse can conserve theirs and stay healthy. There's the added dimension of Boston still being alive in the playoffs and injury call-ups that comes into play, too. Playoff hockey can be about attrition, and bear in mind Providence went the distance in their first round series against Hershey, too. Advantage Syracuse if Providence can't handle their business in Game Five of their series tomorrow. Box score from TheAHL.com. read more

Versus AHL Eastern Conference SemifinalsGame FourListen Live on The Fan 1260 Where: OnonDaga County War Memorial Arena, Syracuse, New YorkWhen: 7:00 PM EDTMedia: 1260 AM (radio) The Syracuse Crunch have the potential to close out the AHL Semifinal round tonight with a victory over the Springfield Falcons. Taking their dominant 3-0 series lead into tonight, the focus should be on the Top Gun line of Ondrej Palat, Tyrler Johnson and Richard Panik and their ability to score not only goals but many MANY goals. Yet, that might not be the case. The focus should be on Springfield's goalie situation too; can Curtis McElhinney find his center and his focus and stop a few Crunch shots on the way and bring the Falcons back into this series? Yeah, that drama is there too... That narrative is something to explore and examine as the game progresses, but it's not the focus... At least to some. No, the focus is on attendance, where it shouldn't be. Wednesday's shutout win for the Crunch drew a small crowd -- somewhere north of 3,200 for the 6,000+ seat War Memorial. No one would be making this a story if not for Howard Dolgon, Crunch owner, voicing his displeasure with the small crowd. He went off on a rant on Wednesday, post game, and continued to stand by it on Thursday. That violated the most basic rules of running a public business - don't alienate your customers via criticism. Shaming fans will sooner compell people not to show up than to be shamed into buying more tickets that directly profit you. I think Tampa Bay fans can relate to this? The Rays? The Bucs? Shame, shame... Yes, the Crunch product is akin to the Lightning of 2004 - a potential champion. The difference being this is the minor leagues in a college town that is smaller than the greater Tampa Bay metro area. That's not trying to criticise Syracuse as so much defend it. Residents have lives outside of hockey and sports, and with fewer peoeple to draw from -- even playoff games won't always lure capacity crowds. It's not liek the Crunch are at the bottom of the AHL in playoff attendance. Everyone is drawing small crowds. It's not something to get worked up over. It's also not something to shame your patrons over either. But I digress. Gametime is 7 PM and I've ran long. Game on.

IN A GALAXY NOT SO FAR AWAY… Leave it to your Tampa Bay Lightning to host Darth Maul at a Bolts game at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. Seriously, this really did happen. As you may recall, last season – on February 16, 2012 to be exact – the ...

Quarterfinal Round: Russia 3 vs. USA 8 Ben Bishop, USA, DNP Tournament totals: 5 GP, 3-2-0, 0 SO, 2.83 GAA, .876 sv% Matt Carle, USA, 0-0-0, +2, 0 PIM, 2 SOG Tournament totals: 8 GP, 0-2-2, +2, 0 PIM Nate Thompson, USA, 1-0-1, +1, 0 PIM, 2 SOG Tournament totals: 8 GP, 1-2-3, +1, 8 PIM Vasily Koshechkin, Russia, DNP Tournament totals: 1 GP, 0-1-0, 0 SO, 2.04 GAA, .895 sv% USA recovered from their 4-1 loss in the final game of the round robin by clubbing Russia 8-3 in the Quarterfinals. Colorado's Paul Stastny had 2 goals and 2 assists to help Team USA en route to the snowman. Nashville's Craig Smith also chipped in 5 helpers. Ex-Lightning first rounder Alex Svitov had a goal in defeat for the Russians, but also posted an ugly -4 rating. Vasily Koshechkin did not suit up in the match for the Russians. Ben Bishop sat backup to young John Gibson for Team USA. Finland 4 vs. Slovakia 3 Jaroslav Janus, Slovakia, DNP Tournament totals: 2 GP, 0-2-0, 0 SO, 3.00 GAA, .875 sv% Tournament star Petri Kontiola had 2 goals and 3 points as Finland squeaked by Slovakia 4-3 to advance to the tournament Semifinals. Ex-NHLer Branislav Mezei had 3 assists in defeat for the Slovakians. Jaroslav Janus did not suit up in the match. Canada 2 vs. Sweden 3 (SO) Steven Stamkos, Canada, 1-0-1, +1, 2 PIM, 4 SOG Tournament totals: 8 GP, 7-5-12, +6, 6 PIM Buffalo's Jhonas Enroth recorded 39 saves to lead Sweden to a 3-2 shootout win over Team Canada. Steven Stamkos scored the opening goal of the match on the power play for Canada, but did not take an attempt in the shootout session. Ex-Lightning netminder Mike Smith made 30 saves in defeat. The tournament is now over for the Russians, Slovakians, and Canadians. Team USA advances to face Switzerland on Saturday in one Semifinal match while co-host nations Sweden and Finland will square off in a rivalry match in the other Semifinal tilt. read more

A big showing helped the American side advance deeper into the tournament on Thursday at the World Championships, while a talented Team Canada saw its run end with a quarterfinal defeat to Sweden. Team USA prevailed in a 8-3 win over Russia, wh...

The National Hockey League announced this morning that Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Martin St. Louis, along with Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks and Matt Moulson of the New York Islanders, has been nominated for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. March 9, 2013; Tampa FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Martin St. Louis (26) skates against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period at Tampa Times Forum. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy is awarded yearly “to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.” This is not the first time that St. Louis has been nominated for this award. He won the award in both the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. With his 17 goals and 43 assists, the right winger led the National Hockey League this season in points with 60, winning the Art Ross Trophy. In that same period of time St. Louis only took a total of 7 trips to the penalty box. In the first two months of play, St. Louis would only be called to the sin bin one time. This would be followed by 3 visits in March, and another 3 in April. Should St. Louis win this Award this year, he will become the third player in NHL history to win the Lady Bing and Art Ross Trophies in the same season. His predecessors include Stan Mikita of the Chicago Blackhawks (1967-68), and the Great One, Wayne Gretzky (1994). He would also become the ninth player in NHL history to have won the award at the least times. He would join Frank Boucher of the New York Rangers who won the award seven times, Wayne Gretzky (five), Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings (four), Red Kelly (four), Bobby Bauer of the Boston Bruins (three), Mike Bossy of the New York Islanders (three), Alex Delvecchio of the Red Wings (three), and Ron Francis (three). We here at Bolts By The Bay wish Martin St. Louis the best of luck at the NHL Awards this year. He may be #26 on the ice, but he’ll always be #1 in the hearts of many in the Bolts Nation around Tampa Bay. Who do you think is most deserving of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy this season? Do you think St. Louis is the odds on favorite? Sound off in the comments below and let us know what you think. Be sure to stay up-to-date with all the latest Lightning news and updates with Bolts By the Bay. LIKE us on Facebook at Bolts By The Bay, and you can follow us on Twitter at @BoltsByTheBay.

Despite this past season’s results, the Tampa Bay Lightning always position themselves to be champions off the ice as well, specifically within the community. That was the case this past week, when on Monday, May 13, members of the Lightning or...

If Tampacuse were a location, would it be Tampa, where the Lightning have seen their roster increasingly stocked with products from the Syracuse Crunch, including their head coach? Or is Tampacuse Syracuse, New York,,which has become the beneficiary of the Lightning's current prospect depth and devotion to player development? The phrase, mashing up Tampa and Syracuse, became a popular hashtag on Twitter this season from both fanbases. Tampacuse, it seems, is a force to be reckoned with and something to take pride in. And now we've put it on a shirt. "Greetings from Tampacuse" embraces the blue and white - the primary colors of both the Bolts and the Crunch - as well as orange that is tied to both Tampa and Syracuse. Greetings from Tampacuse Available colors: Royal Blue, Navy Blue, Black Available colors: White, Ash, Sport Grey, Carolina Blue, Light Blue Available colors: Gold, Orange, Tennessee Orange, Texas Orange, Tangerine, Embrace Tampacuse and show your