Encouraging!
WB Philp | Sep 17, 2009 | Comments 2
The Big Swede Passes With Flying Colors
He was on the ice for 27 minutes and 15 seconds, four and a half minutes longer than anyone else. He skated skillfully and with purpose.
His coach Rick Tocchet said, “If I had to say who tried and played hard…(he) would be in my top, absolutely.”
I know, you’re thinking Marty or maybe Vinny. Nope. The Lightning’s best player in his first preseason tilt was none other than the big Swede, Victor Hedman. He looked like a veteran blue liner as he played smartly and effectively. He had one shot on goal and blocked two shots. He showed his toughness when he mixed it up with the Stars Jamie Benn at the close of the second period.
“Victor is an excellent player. He makes mistakes like everybody, and we’ll work with him. But the poise of his is something you don’t teach,” said coach Tocchet.
The Bolts lost in a shootout to the Dallas Stars, 4-3 at the American Airlines Center. I am not one to tout moral victories, but the Lightning played very well without their star players against a fully loaded Stars group.
Newly acquired Todd Fedoruk, along with Todd McLean and Blair Jones each scored to overcome a 2-0 deficit. The Lightning had a 3-2 lead with just under six minutes left in the contest, but Dallas’ James Neal scored with three minutes left.
The good: Hedman’s stellar play, Defenseman Matt Smaby’s five blocked shots and Jeff Halpern’s leadership on the ice. Goalie Antero Niittymaki was solid in net for two periods, blocking 13 of the 15 shots he faced. Goaltender Jaroslav Janus stopped 10 of 11 shots, only allowing Brad Richards’ goal in the shootout.
The bad: Dallas’ first two goals were on the power play, the Lightning was 1 for 9 on their power play, including almost two minutes of a five on three advantage and they couldn’t hold their third period lead.
I was very encouraged by the play of the out manned Bolts squad.
The Lightning play at home on Friday versus the Thrashers.
What are your thoughts on the Bolts first game of the year?
Filed Under: NHL Teams • Tampa Bay Lightning
I didn't see the game, but I listened on the radio. I pretty much agree with you – Hedman's and the team's performance was encouraging. We didn't dress Ohlund, Mez, Ranger or Walker, but held them well under 30 shots in regulation. Janus sounded like he did very well in his NHL game as well. It sounded like Brad Richards was the difference for them – 2 points in reg and the shootout winner. Glad to see him doing well. We'll see how Smitty does against the young dirty birds before we really get excited.
Thanks Pat. It will be interesting to see how they do with six games in the next seven nights to play. The roster was cut from 52 to 43. I thought maybe they would wait to cut down until after this stretch of games. It's too bad Kevin Quick was cut. I like him, but he came into camp 20 pounds overweight…what the heck was he thinking. I guess it proves that these players (Like Quick and Lawrence) made no impression at all on Tocchet, otherwise he would have kept them around for this brutal stretch of games.