Lightning Strikes (Cristodero)

The Lightning on Thursday had three players named to the initial group of 15 who will play for the United States at next month's world championship in Sweden and Finland: goaltender Ben Bishop, center Nate Thompson and defenseman Matt Carle.

Lightning right wing Marty St. Louis talks about a 5-2 victory over the Maple Leafs on April 24, 2012, at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in which he had a hat trick and took over the league points lead.

Lightning left wing Ryan Malone is scratched from tonight's game with the Maple Leafs after two games he classified as not good. The question is whether Malone is sitting solely because of poor play or if he still is not fully recovered from a left shoulder injury that cost him nine games from March 20-April 7. Malone said there are no …

The Lightning during Thursday's game with the Bruins at TD Garden will honor the city of Boston by wearing Boston Strong ribbon stickers on their helmets.

After missing 13 games with a high ankle sprain, goaltender Anders Lindback will start tonight against the Hurricanes at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

For the second straight season, a Lightning prospect has been named most valuable player in the American Hockey League. Syracuse's Tyler Johnson was named today. He is tied for the league lead with 33 goals and has 60 points in 60 games heading into the final weekend of the season. Last season's winner was Norfolk's Cory Conacher.

When Ben Bishop takes the ice tonight at the Bell Centre against the Canadiens, it will be his eighth start for the Lightning since being acquired from the Senators. He will have sat out only one of Tampa Bay's nine games, but said the work load is not a problem.

Lightning coach Jon Cooper talks about Tampa Bay's 4-3 shootout loss to the Jets at the MTS Centre on April 16, 2013.

Lightning center Nate Thompson went to the front of the net during Tuesday's morning skate in Winnipeg and faced defenseman Eric Brewer who launched a slap shot right at Thompson.

In what should not come as a surprise, new Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop on Monday signed a two-year, $4.6 million contract extension through 2014-15 -- $2.2 million next season (same as Anders Lindback, $2.4 million in 2014-15. Bishop, 26, was scheduled to be a restricted free agent.

Lightning coach Jon Cooper talks about Tampa Bay's 3-1 loss to the Sabres at the First Niagara Center on April 14, 2013.

Lightning coach Jon Cooper talks about Tampa Bay's 6-5 overtime loss to the Capitals at the Verizon Center on April 13, 2013.

Lightning defenseman Sami Salo will play in his 800th career game tonight at the Verizon Center against the Capitals. Coach Jon Cooper hinted there was at least a minor medical issue, but Salo said he expects to play.

The Lightning on Friday reassigned forwards Brett Connolly and Tyler Johnson to AHL Syracuse. Easy to figure this one out, the Lightning will not make the playoffs and the Crunch is in.

Lightning coach Jon Cooper talks about Tampa Bay's 6-3 loss to the Penguins.

Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman has said he usually is a quick healer, and he seems to be proving it with his comeback from a lower-body injury sustained in the first period of the April 4 victory over the Hurricanes.

Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop talks about beating his former team, the Senators, 3-2, at the Tampa Bay Tomes Forum on April 9, 2013.

Lightning left wing Ryan Malone, who has missed eight games with a left shoulder injury, said he is ready to return to the lineup tonight against the Senators. Coach Jon Cooper said Malone will be a game-time decision.

The Lightning made a couple of moves on Monday, calling up defenseman Mark Barberio from AHL Syracuse and returning defenseman Matt Taormina to the Crunch.

Lightning coach Jon Cooper talks about Tampa Bay's hard-fought 4-2 loss to the Capitals at the Verizon Center.