With the NHL and NHLPA coming to an agreement last night, it’s time to take a peak at what the Lightning might look like when the season starts in a couple weeks.
I was asked on Twitter this week how I thought the Lightning would fare in a shortened season. My answer is three fold. It depends on:
1. Goaltending
2. Special teams
3. How quickly the team gels
Several news outlets are reporting the NHL and NHLPA have reached agreement on a framework to end the lockout and commence the 2012(?)-2013 season. Both Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA head Donald Fehr confirmed the tentative deal this morning.
Contractual language needs to be finalized and votes need to be taken, but teams should start conducting abbreviated training camps, presumably, within the next couple of weeks.
Earlier today, Anders Lindback's Finnish team reported Lindback was injured during a morning practice in Tampere and would not accompany the club to its away match against SaiPa in the evening.
Within a couple hours, Damian Cristodero of the Tampa Bay Times reported and Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune also confirmed that Lindback was struck in the knee, where he was cut and needed stitches and that he is presently expected to miss about 10 days. His agent, Michael Deutsch of Eclipse Sports Management, emphasized "there is no structural damage at all."
Alaska Aces 1 vs. Utah Grizzlies 2
F Nate Thompson, AK: 0-1-1, +1, 6 SOG, 0 PIM
Season totals: 23 GP, 7-14-21, +5, 23 PIM
After falling behind 2-0 early in the third period, Alaska came on strong and finally got on the board with a few minutes remaining in regulation but could not manage the equalizer despite dominating play in the final frame. Thompson, who was held pointless in the last two matches, added a primary assist on the lone Aces goal scored Joey Crabb. Crabb, a night after fellow NHLer Thompson engaged in some fisticuffs, also earned a fighting major in the match after tangling with the Utah defenseman Josh Burrows. Having split the four-game series with Utah, Alaska (18-7-0, 36 PTS) now travels to face Idaho (16-5-3, 35 PTS) for a single match Wednesday night in what will be a show-down of the Mountain division front-runners.
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Saint John Sea Dogs 5 @ Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 1
W Nikita Kucherov, QUE: 0-0-0, E, 0 PIM, 3 SOG, 0 Hits
Season totals: 9 GP, 5-9-14, +3, 2 PIM
With R-N: 3 GP, 2-2-4, +4, 0 PIM
With Quebec: 6 GP, 3-7-10, -1, 2 PIM
It happened. For the first time in his North American hockey career, Nikita Kucherov went scoreless in a game as Saint John shut down Rouyn-Noranda, 5-1, on Wednesday night. Kucherov had gone all eight games with at least one point to start the season, his first in North America. The Huskies entered the game seven points ahead of the Sea Dogs in the QMJHL standings. Saint John has won four in a row.