Hutchings, Alex

This season Bolt Prospects introduced our Prospect of the Week award, an honor (virtually) given to one Tampa Bay Lightning prospect for their on-ice contributions. There are no trophies or plaques, but we are sending a Phineas & Ferb valentine to this week’s winner.

We wanted to highlight prospects throughout the year to help fans get better acquainted with the next round of Lightning stars while recognizing the prospect’s achievement on the ice.

This week’s BP Prospect of the Week award goes to … Alex Hutchings, Florida (ECHL).

A fourth round pick of the Lightning in 2009, Hutchings made his pro debut last year and struggled to find his groove playing against men. It isn’t abnormal by any means for players to struggle making the transition to pro, which makes the years Carter Ashton, Cory Conacher, Tyler Johnson, and Richard Panik all the more impressive.

This year Hutchings took an early demotion from AHL Norfolk and didn’t sulk. He was leading the team in scoring before suffering an “upper-body” injury on November 12. He’s spent the last three months watching hockey while trying to get healthy.

Until now.

Florida Everblades 3 @ South Carolina Stingrays 4

LW Alex Hutchings, FLA: 0-1-1, -1, 2 SOG, 6 PIM (roughing, hooking, slashing)
Season Totals: 17 GP, 8-8-16, +4, 18 PIM
D Charles Landry, FLA: 1-0-1, -1, 1 SOG, 2 PIM (hooking)
Season Totals: 14 GP, 1-4-5, +2, 4 PIM
D Kevin Quick, FLA: 0-0-0, E, 1 SOG, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 10 GP, 0-3-3, -3, 2 PIM (Norfolk property)
G Pat Nagle, FLA: Did not play (backup)
Season Totals: 31 GP, 14-12-0-3, 2.98 GAA, .900 sv%, 1 SO

Looking for their second win a row in South Carolina, Florida skated out to a 3-0 lead but gave up three third period goals and lost 4-3. They were outshot 50-27 in the game, including 20-8 in the third period. Lightning prospect Pat Nagle sat for the second straight game. Congratulations to Charles Landry (pictured), who scored his first professional goal. The ‘Blades fell eight points behind South Carolina for third in the four-team South Division. They are clinging to the eighth and final playoff spot in the East, one point ahead of Cincinnati, who has a whopping five games in hand on the Everblades. Florida has 22 games left.

Florida Everblades 5 @ South Carolina Stingrays 3

LW Alex Hutchings, FLA: 0-2-2, E, 1 SOG, 2 PIM (tripping)
Season Totals: 16 GP, 8-7-15, +5, 12 PIM
D Charles Landry, FLA: 0-1-1, +1, 0 SOG, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 13 GP, 0-4-4, +3, 2 PIM
D Kevin Quick, FLA: 0-0-0, E, 1 SOG, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 9 GP, 0-3-3, -3, 2 PIM (Norfolk property)
G Pat Nagle, FLA: Did not play (backup)
Season Totals: 31 GP, 14-12-0-3, 2.98 GAA, .900 sv%, 1 SO

Playing his second game in three months, Alex Hutchings had two assists and fellow Lightning prospect Charles Landry (pictured) had one assist to help the Everblades to a 5-3 road win over South Carolina. Dating back to mid-November before his injury, Hutchings has nine points in his last six games. Landry’s assist was his first point for Florida since before Christmas – a span of seven games (he spent some time with AHL Norfolk). Pat Nagle got the night off after taking a loss in Gwinnett the night before. Former Clarkson star Matt Beca had a hat trick for Florida. The 'Blades pulled within six points of South Carolina for third in the South Division. Florida has two games in hand on the Stingrays.

Florida Everblades 3 @ Gwinnett Gladiators 4 (SO)

LW Alex Hutchings, FLA: 1-0-1, +2, 6 SOG, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 15 GP, 8-5-13, +5, 10 PIM
D Charles Landry, FLA: 0-0-0, -1, 0 SOG, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 10 GP, 0-3-3, +4, 2 PIM
D Kevin Quick, FLA: 0-0-0, -1, E SOG, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 9 GP, 0-3-3, -3, 2 PIM (Norfolk property)
G Pat Nagle, FLA: SOL, 25 saves on 28 shots
Season Totals: 31 GP, 14-12-0-3, 2.98 GAA, .900 sv%, 1 SO

Welcome back, Alex Hutchings (pictured). The Lightning’s 2009 fourth round pick has been out since mid-November with an upper-body injury, but made his return Thursday night for the ‘Blades. His goal late in the second period restored Florida’s lead to 3-2 (they had led 2-0), but they gave up a late goal and lost in the shootout. Gwinnett scored on three of their five shootout attempts on Pat Nagle, who was making his first start in three games. Hutchings shot first for Florida but didn’t score. The Everblades are 1-6-1-2 in their last 10 games.

Reading Royals 5 @ Florida Everblades 4 (OT)

LW Alex Hutchings, FLA: Did not play (injured)
Season Totals: 14 GP, 7-5-12, +3, 10 PIM
D Charles Landry, FLA: 0-0-0, E, 1 SOG, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 9 GP, 0-3-3, +5, 2 PIM
D Kevin Quick, FLA: 0-0-0, -2, 1 SOG, 2 PIM (high sticking)
Season Totals: 8 GP, 0-3-3, -2, 2 PIM (Norfolk property)
G Pat Nagle, FLA: Did not play (backup)
Season Totals: 30 GP, 14-11-0-2, 2.99 GAA, .900 sv%, 1 SO

Shane Owen, who shut out Reading on Friday, stopped just 17 of 22 on Saturday night as the Royals topped the ‘Blades in overtime. Reading scored the game tying goal while shorthanded with under two minutes left in the game. That hurts. At least Florida gets a point. Remember a couple weeks ago when they had a chance to take over sole possession of first in the South Division? They’re now 11 points out of first and in last, six points behind Greenville.