DALLAS — Just when the Lightning finally felt like it was getting healthy.
2 Weeks Ago
1 Week Ago
5 Days Ago
C Tyler Johnson returned to the lineup Saturday against the Stars after missing two games with a lower-body injury. But wing Jonathan Drouin‘s status was in doubt until game time due to a flu bug. Cory Conacher was called up from AHL Syracuse as insurance.
The Lightning kept Drouin back at the hotel during the morning skate to avoid the illness affecting the rest of the team. Drouin did play Saturday, but you wonder if the bug hasn’t left the Lightning room.
Vinny’s back
When former Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier participated in Saturday’s alumni game against the Bruins at Amalie Arena, it was just the third time he had played hockey since he retired last summer. No rust showed. His hat trick led to an 18-14 win. Lecavalier, 36, still gets plenty of ice, though, coaching his son, Gabriel, 5. "It’s been the best," Lecavalier said. "Sometimes I teach him things, I’m thinking he’s not listening, but then he’ll do it in a game two days later. So it’s fun to see." Lecavalier is enjoying his retirement, from being a dad to Gabriel and daughters Victoria and Amelia to hunting and fishing. He has no regrets. The next question is when will the Lightning retire Lecavalier’s jersey No. 4. My bet is that it happens next season. "Until they do, you never know," Lecavalier said. "It’ll be a great honor."
Triplet talk
AHL Syracuse is going old-school. The Crunch is giving away Triplets bobbleheads (above) at three upcoming home games, featuring figurines of former linemates Tyler Johnson, Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat all in Crunch uniforms. "It’s kind of cool," Johnson said. "I’ve had a couple (of bobbleheads) throughout the years. They’re always so different. Not too many times you see a bobblehead really look like someone."
Worth watching
GM Steve Yzerman likes talking about himself as much as he enjoys losing. So it should be an interesting Inside the Lightning edition profiling Yzerman on Fox Sports Sun. The episode, which features interviews with his old Red Wings coach, Scotty Bowman, and GM, Ken Holland, as well as Vinny Lecavalier, among others, debuted Saturday. It re-airs Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. and 11 p.m.
Slap shots
> First, rookie D Jake Dotchin gets put into overtime 3-on-3. Now he’s getting work on the power play. Few Lightning players’ stock has risen higher this season.
> Devils scout Peter Horachek was at the Lightning game again Saturday. Other reps in attendance were from the Bruins, Hurricanes, Blackhawks and Coyotes.
> Great to see Stars TV broadcaster Dave Strader back in the booth. Strader, who has cancer, was part of my childhood in Detroit; I listened to him and Mickey Redmond call Red Wings games.
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