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Raw Charge

https://www.rawcharge.com/ | 132 entries published

The static cling that brings Tampa Bay Lightning fans together.

Latest Entries

A look back at November for the Tampa Bay Lightning

The Tamp Bay Lightning played 14 games in November and won 11 of them. That’s it, that’s the review. We really don’t need to get any deeper than that. But, we do. Well, we have to in order to show up in Google results. The Lightning started the month 15th out of 16 teams in the Eastern Conference. They had rallied to a 5-4-2 record in October, but still had a mountain to climb in the standings as only the Buffalo Sabres were behind them. After ripping off their 11 victories, includin...

about 2 months ago | 6 reads

Lightning beat Rangers, 4-1

We’re going to keep things short and sweet tonight. The Tampa Bay Lightning beat the New York Rangers, 4-1, behind a pair of goals from…wait for it…Brandon Hagel. The hottest forward on earth ran his career-best goal streak to five games and now has 12 points (8 goals, 4 assists) in that stretch. Jonas Johansson wasn’t tested often, but he made the stops he needed to, stopping 12-of-13 shots for the victory. It was a strong game from start to finish for the Bolts as they posted a 6.04 xGF...

NHL

about 2 months ago | 3 reads

Good on the road versus bad at home: Lightning at Rangers Preview

Game Twenty-Five: Tampa Bay Lightning at New York Rangers Time: 2:00 PM EST Location: Madison Square Garden, The City That Never Sleeps TV/Stream/Radio: The Spot, MSG, SN1, NHL Network, 102.5 FM, Lightning App Odds: Lightning -105 Know the Opponents: Blue Shirt Banter Following their entertaining win against the Detroit Red Wings, the Tampa Bay Lightning are right back in action for a matinee performance at the World’s Most Famous Arena as they take on the New Yor...

about 2 months ago | 4 reads

Lightning beat Red Wings, 6-3, behind pair of goals from Yanni Gourde

Perhaps it was the early start time, but for the first two periods the Tampa Bay Lightning and Detroit Red Wings decided that defense was optional. If it wasn’t for the play of Andrei Vasilevskiy and John Gibson there would have been even more than the seven goals the two teams combined to score. The Lightning emerged from those forty minutes with the 4-3 lead, and not only held off a surge from the home team, but added a couple of goals to win their sixth game in a row by a final of 6-3. ...

about 2 months ago | 2 reads

Tampa Bay Lightning recall Simon Lundmark

There may have been a little glimmer of hope that at least one injured defenseman (most likely Max Crozier) was feeling a little better as the Tampa Bay Lightning re-assigned Max Groshev to Syracuse on Thursday. However, it seems that is not the case as the team announced that, while Groshev was heading north, Simon Lundmark was heading west. The 25-year-old joined the organization as a free agent this summer on a two-year, two-way contract after spending time with the Winnipeg Jets. He’s...

NHL

about 2 months ago | 0 reads

Lightning take on Red Wings in a top-of-the-division match-up

Game Twenty-Four: Tampa Bay Lightning (14-7-2) at Detroit Red Wings (13-10-1) Time: 12:00 PM EST Location: Little Caesers’ Arena, Motor City TV/Stream/Radio: The Spot, FDSNDET, ESPN+, 102.5 FM, Lightning App Odds: Lightning -125 Know the Opponents: Winging it in Motown If you need an example of how tight things are in the Eastern Conference, prior to Wednesday’s games, the Detroit Red Wings were in second place in the Atlantic Division, and just one point behind t...

about 2 months ago | 3 reads

Happy Thanksgiving to Bolts Nation

Good morning! We just wanted to put up a quick post to thank everyone for your support over the years. We really appreciate everyone that stops by to read, comment, or donate. Heck, even if you’re reading because you hate every word we’ve ever written, we appreciate you. We also wanted to extend our thanks to one particular aspect of the Tampa Bay Lightning that might get overlooked – the professional scouts. Over the years, the Lightning’s amateur scouting staff has received a lot of pra...

NHL

about 2 months ago | 0 reads

Lightning feast early, nap late in 5-1 win over Flames

Look. We’ve all done it. It’s Thanksgiving Day, the turkey comes out of the oven, and you tell yourself you’re going to pace yourself. You’re not going to over-indulge. Yet, twenty minutes later, with cranberry sauce dripping down your chin, you realize that you’ve just consumed the caloric intake reserved for a family of four. The next thing you know, you’re passed out on the couch. With four goals in the first ten minutes of the game, the Lightning devoured the Flames like they were smo...

about 2 months ago | 2 reads

No time for a letdown: Flames at Lightning preview

Game Game Twenty-Three: Calgary Flames (8-13-3) at Tampa Bay Lightning (13-7-2) Time: 7:00 PM EST Location: Benchmark International Arena, Stop #8 on the TECO Streetcar Line TV/Stream/Radio: The Spot, SN360, ESPN+, 102.5 FM, Lightning App Odds: Lightning -185 Know the Opponents: Flame for Thought Tonight, the Tampa Bay Lightning close out a long stretch of home games with a pre-Thanksgiving match against a Western Conference team. In the midst of a stretch where t...

about 2 months ago | 2 reads

Signs point to injured Lightning forward returning

While the Tampa Bay Lightning’s defense is still, in the words of their goaltender , “Syracuse-ish” it appears that the forwards are getting healthier. Brayden Point’s status might still be in doubt, but based on Tuesday’s practice, it appears that another center could be ready to return to the line-up. Pontus Holmberg, who has been out of the line-up since early line-up was taking a regular shift. He was also part of the unofficial sign of return as he led the team stretch at practice, a...

about 2 months ago | 3 reads

Lightning run winning streak to four behind Vasilevskiy’s shutout of the Flyers, 3-0

With a line-up that was missing it’s top center and three of their four most used defensemen, the Tampa Bay Lightning needed their best players to step up and take control against a feisty Philadelphia Flyers team. The Bolts answered the call as Andrei Vasilevskiy picked up his first shutout of the season with 20 saves while Brandon Hagel scored twice and added an assist. His linemates, Anthony Cirelli (1 goal, 1 assist), and Nikita Kucherov (3 assists) provided the rest of the offense as the ...

2 months ago | 0 reads

Lightning recall intriguing prospect as injuries continue to plague roster

While everyone, and by everyone, we mean us, was worried about the health of a couple of forwards, it turns out that the big blow to the roster will hit an already stitched together blue line for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Yes, Brayden Point is likely to miss a game or three, but Nikita Kucherov appears to be healthy enough to play. So, the Lightning are, for the most part, okay up front. Unfortunately, it appears they will be without the services of Erik Cernak for the foreseeable future, as th...

NHL

2 months ago | 1 read

Another day, another injury: Flyers at Lightning Preview

Game Twenty-Two: Philadelphia Flyers (11-6-3) at Tampa Bay Lightning (12-7-2) Time: 7:00 PM EST Location: Benchmark International Arena, on the shores of Garrison Channel TV/Stream/Radio: The Spot, NBCSP ESPN+, 102.5 FM, Lightning App Odds: Lightning -175 Know the Opponents: Broad Street Hockey First things first. It looks like Nikita Kucherov will play tonight for the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Hockey Fights Cancer Night game against the Philadelphia Flyers. So that’s...

2 months ago | 2 reads

The trickle down effect of the injuries to Kucherov and Point

The Tampa Bay Lightning may have won their last two matches against the Washington Capitals, but they are happy that they don’t see them on the schedule for the rest of the regular season. On November 8th they beat the Caps, 3-2 , but lost Ryan McDonagh, Victor Hedman, and Dominic James. Hedman and McDonagh haven’t played since. Then, on Saturday, the Lightning won, 5-3 , but it cost them Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov. As of publication of this post, the status of Point and Kucherov i...

2 months ago | 1 read

Lightning score early, hold on late to beat Capitals, 5-3

C’mon. You didn’t think this would be easy now did you? Even after the 4-1 lead in the first period? This is the Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals. Nothing is easy. Especially in D.C. where the Lightning seemingly win once every administration. Heading into the night they had a whopping 18 wins in 62 trips to Capital One Arena. So, even with the big early lead, you knew it was going to be an interesting finish. Sure enough, the Capitals clawed back to within a goal early in the ...

2 months ago | 2 reads

Preview: Lightning defense will be tested by red-hot Capitals offense

Game Twenty-One: Tampa Bay Lightning (11-7-2) at Washington Capitals (11-8-2) Time: 7:00 PM EST Location: Capital One Arena, The Nation’s Capital TV/Stream/Radio: The Spot, MNMT, ESPN+, 102.5 FM, Lightning App Odds: Lightning +100 Know the Opponents: J apers’ Rink Two weeks ago, these two teams faced off in Tampa with the Lightning pulling off the 3-2 overtime win in a game where everyone got hurt. Okay, not everyone, but Ryan McDonagh blocked a shot and hasn’t pl...

2 months ago | 2 reads

Jake Guentzel’s overtime winner pushes Lightning past Oilers, 2-1

Well now. Welcome back, Nick Paul. The Tampa Bay Lightning forward punctuated his first game of the season with a game-tying goal with 2:32 to go in the game. That set the table for Jake Guentzel’s overtime winner on a wake-the-neighbors sequence of plays that started with Andrei Vasilevskiy literally saving the game with a desperation left-pad save and ended with Darren Raddysh’s perfect geed to Guentzel on a two-on-one break the other way. Paul was in the line-up after missing the ...

2 months ago | 2 reads

Nick Paul set to make season debut against Edmonton Oilers

Based on a few coincidental factors it appears that Nick Paul is going to be back in the Tampa Bay Lightning line-up tonight as they face the Edmonton Oilers. First off, the Lightning re-assigned Scott Sabourin to Syracuse yesterday, indicating that yet another forward was healthy following the return of Anthony Cirelli and Dominic James. Second, at the morning skate, Paul led the stretching from the center of the ice, an unofficial position of honor usually reserved for players getting called...

2 months ago | 3 reads

The Connor McDavid Show is here: Oilers at Lightning Preview

Game Twenty: Edmonton Oilers (9-9-4) at Tampa Bay Lightning (10-7-2) Time: 7:30 PM EST Location: Benchmark International Arena, Located in Pete Alonso’s hometown TV/Stream/Radio: ESPN+, Hulu, SN, 102.5 FM, Lightning App (audio) Odds: Lightning -162 Know the Opponents: Oil on Whyte What sweet sorcery is this? A rested Tampa Bay Lightning team gets to face a team that played last night? Usually, it’s the other way around, or at least that’s what it seems like. Yes, ...

2 months ago | 5 reads

Guentzel’s hat trick powers Lightning past Devils, 5-1

Jake Guentzel had a hat trick, Darren Raddysh had a three-point night, and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 31-of-32 shots on the night. Those were the ingredients needed for the Tampa Bay Lightning to snap their two-game home losing streak with a 5-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils. The dormant Lightning power play was sharp, converting 2-of-3 chances The Lightning faithful were treated to the return of a couple of forwards as Dominic James and Anthony Cirelli were in the starting line-up. ...

2 months ago | 2 reads

Healthy? It’s all relative: Devils at Lightning preview

Game Nineteen: New Jersey Devils (13-4-1) at Tampa Bay Lightning (9-7-2) Time: 7:00 PM EST Location: Benchmark International Arena, Where Kurt Angle beat The Undertaker for the WWE Championship at Survivor Series 2000 TV/Stream/Radio: The Spot, SN, NHLN, MSGSN, 102.5 FM, Lightning App Odds: Lightning -170 Know the Opponents: All About the Jersey Another night and another battle between two teams not featuring their very best. It’s the third game in a row where the...

2 months ago | 0 reads

Lightning recall two defensemen as injury woes linger

It seemed like things were moving in the right direction in regards to the injury situation for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Jakob Pelletier returned to Syracuse on Sunday after his one-game replacement of Brandon Hagel. Boris Katchouk followed on Monday, an indication that one of their forwards is ready to come back as well. Prior to their game against the New Jersey Devils, the team made a move that would indicate that the busiest place in the building is still the trainers’ room. The team ...

2 months ago | 1 read

2025 Tampa Bay Lightning Top 25 Under 25: #6 Dylan Duke

It’s only a matter of time until Dylan Duke is playing hockey for the Tampa Bay Lightning on a regular basis. Name Dylan Duke Position Center/Forward Age (as of October 1) 22 Height/Weight 5’10”, 176 lbs. Expected 2025-26 Team Syracuse Crunch Draft – Year, Round 2021, 4th Round (126) Previous Rankings 23rd ( 2021 ), 14th ( 2022 ), 7th ( 2023 ), 7th ( 2024 ) JustinG.’s Ranking 8 Final Rank 6 Stats: Our Thoughts: During their recent run of injuries, the Tampa Bay Li...

2 months ago | 0 reads

Lightning re-assign Boris Katchouk as injured players return to practice

The Tampa Bay Lightning were back on the ice for practice on Monday following their disappointing loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday. Well, most of the Lightning were. Boris Katchouk wasn’t there as the team re-assigned him to the Syracuse Crunch. While that’s an unfortunate hit to the 27-year-old’s bank account (his AHL salary is $250,000 compared to his $775,000 NHL salary) it is a good sign that the Lightning are starting to get healthy. Katchouk appeared in three games during his...

2 months ago | 0 reads