Tampa Bay Lightning Daily Headlines: Vasilevskiy’s Return, Trade Deadline
Game day is finally here, and as the Tampa Bay Lightning prepare for battle against the Chicago Blackhawks we take a look at the top headlines around the NHL.
The day we have been waiting for here in the Bolts Nation for what has seemed like forever is finally upon us. In just a few more hours, the Tampa Bay Lightning will come charging back into the Amalie Arena for the first time since embarking on their five-game road trip through the Western Conference to take on the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Blackhawks are going through a bit of a tough time right now, but that doesn’t mean that this challenge is going to be any easier on the boys in blue. Thankfully, based on comments made yesterday by captain Steven Stamkos, they are prepared for just such an occasion.
On a side note, if you are heading to tonight’s game at the Amalie Arena, we recommend that you leave a little earlier than usual. Tonight’s game is a total sell out, which means that as game time approaches finding a place to park will be tougher than two week old pizza crust.
While we wait on all the action to kick off tonight, let’s take a look at some of the top headlines from not just here in the Bolts Nation, but around the rest of the National Hockey League as well.
As expected, Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy’s trip to New York was short lived. After protecting the pipes on Wednesday night for the Syracuse Crunch as they took on the Rochester Americans, he has been recalled by the Tampa Bay Lightning. We anticipate that he will dress as backup for Ben Bishop in tonight’s encounter. [Tampa Bay Lightning]
St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, but it looks as if the Syracuse Crunch are getting into the spirit a little bit early. The Crunch will be hosting an Irish Night on Saturday, February 28th when they face off against the Utica Comets. A portion of each ticket sold using the code provided will benefit the St. Patrick Hunger Project. They will also be collecting canned goods to be distributed to the Interreligious Food Consortium. [Syracuse Crunch]
The Chicago Blackhawks are in quite a bit of a pickle right now. After their leader in all matters scoring, otherwise known as Patrick Kane, was removed from the picture after taking a nasty shot into the boards resulting in a broken left clavicle. To help ease the pain of that loss, they recalled center Teuvo Teravainen from the Rockford IceHogs. The Tampa Bay Lightning better watch out, because he is already lighting the lamps for the Hawks. [SB Nation]
The Boston Bruins have had an unusually bad season. Whereas they would usually be sitting back and waiting for the playoffs to begin at this point, they find themselves battling just to make sure they even have a spot in the post season. Of course, anytime something like this happens the first person people want to point at is the Head Coach. This doesn’t seem to bother Bruins Head Coach Claude Julien in the slightest. [Pro Hockey Talk]
As we’re sure you’ve heard a hundred and one times by now, the NHL Trade Deadline is just days away. This means that the moving and the shaking is about to kick into high gear. In fact, the Florida Panthers seem to have gotten away with murder today. The Florida Panthers have acquired veteran forward Jaromir Jagr from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a 2nd Round Pick in 2015 and a conditional 3rd Round Pick in 2016. [NHL]
In other NHL Trade Deadline News, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Columbus Blue Jackets have been busy little bees today. They have orchestrated a deal that would see Maple Leafs right wing David Clarkson head to the Blue Jackets in exchange for the injured Nathan Horton. We’re not quite sure just what it going on behind the scenes here, but we can’t wait to see how this one plays out. [Editor In Leaf]
Needless to say, there is plenty of highlights we could be talking about today, but we understand that you have to get to work eventually; especially if you want to be home in time to see the Lightning take on the Blackhawks. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. Are you ready to Be The Thunder once again?
Next: Tampa Bay Lightning Star of the Week: West Coast Road Trip Edition
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