By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Nothing gained
The Lightning has drafted 20 goalies in its history. Here is the list, overall draft position and year, and games played for Tampa Bay:
Player drafted year games played
Derek Wilkinson 145 1992 22
Tyler Moss 29 1993 0
Zac Bierk 212 1995 26
Evgeny Konstantinov 67 1999 2
Michal Lanicek 148 1999 0
By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, May 19, 2012
The Lightning's preliminary pursuit of Finnish goaltender Riku Helenius is one of the more fascinating developments of the offseason.
Not because Helenius is the immediate answer to the team's problems in net — as assistant general manager Julien BriseBois said, Helenius is considered a "prospect" — but because it shines a light on one of the Lightning's greatest franchise failures:
It never has developed a goalie — not even a consistently reliable backup.
By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Steven Stamkos said he missed playing for Canada at the world championship that wraps up today in Helsinki, Finland, but does not regret the decision to rest and rehabilitate his aching left shoulder.
"It feels good," the Lightning center said of the irritated bursa sac with which he played the last month of the season.
"It was just nice to get that month of rest and relax and make sure it was healthy so it didn't hinder me when it came to training."
David Carle, who the Lightning selected with its final pick of the 2008 draft days after he was diagnosed with a deadly heart condition, has landed a job as an assistant with a USHL team.
Carle, who graduates from Denver University in June, has been hired as an assistant by the Green Bay Gamblers. He is the brother of former Lightning and current Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Matt Carle.
Though the Tampa Bay Lightning has "tested the waters" to see if goaltender Riku Helenius wants to return to the Lightning, assistant general manager Julien BriseBois was clear Wednesday, Helenius is seen as "a prospect." In other words, he is not considered the immediate answer to the big club's goaltending search and would have to take a two-way contract if he wants to again play for the organization that made him the 15th overall pick of the 2006 draft.
By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Part of the Lightning's summer to-do list is to find a top-six forward. That is why general manager Steve Yzerman, at the world championship in Helsinki, Finland, is keeping a close eye on Swiss forward Damien Brunner.
"Highly skilled and fast," Yzerman wrote Tuesday night in a text message, adding Tampa Bay isn't the only team interested in the 5-foot-11, 187-pound right-handed shot.
Brunner, 26, has three goals, seven points and is plus-2 in seven games at the world championship. He had 24 goals, 60 points and was plus-17 in 45 games for Zug.
Times wires
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
NEW YORK — For the third straight series, the Rangers are basking in the glow of a 1-0 lead earned in the confines of "The World's Most Famous Arena."
But the Eastern Conference's top seed has failed in its first two tries to double that edge at Madison Square Garden. Given a third shot tonight against New Jersey in Game 2 of the East final, New York is determined to make the most of home ice.
The Rangers held an optional practice Tuesday at their home rink, the site of Monday's 3-0 win in Game 1.
Times wires
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Jeff Carter scored three goals, Jonathan Quick stopped 24 shots and the Kings matched an NHL record Tuesday night with their seventh straight road playoff victory, beating the Coyotes 4-0 to take control of the Western Conference final.
Los Angeles dominated the opener and was even better in Game 2, withstanding Phoenix's initial push and string of penalties for a 2-0 series lead.
Dwight King scored his third goal in two games and Quick tied a team record with his third career playoff shutout to give the Kings a dominating lead heading into Thursday's Game 3 in Los Angeles.