TAMPA — When the Lightning took to the ice below the tent for his or her observe forward of Sunday’s Stadium Sequence sport at Raymond James Stadium, it didn’t really feel like they have been about to play in entrance of 65,000 followers.
“It felt such as you have been in a rural city within the north someplace taking part in at a youth hockey rink,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper stated. “That’s actually the way it felt. And it was really tremendous cool, that low ceiling. … We have been sitting round speaking to the workforce, and I’m like, ‘I can’t consider this roof goes to come back off and we’re going to be within the open air with all these folks there.’
“Till you’re in it, you don’t actually respect the work that everyone places in to tug this off. I can’t consider they pull it off like this.”
The climate-controlled tent used to assist construct and shield the ice sheet from the weather is something however a traditional hockey rink. The ten-hour dismantling course of was scheduled to start at midnight, and by late morning Sunday the ice is anticipated to have been uncovered to the weather, though insulated tarps will seal within the chilly on the sheet.
Was all the things good Saturday? Not fairly.
Cooper known as consideration to a small gap within the ice between the blue strains whereas the Lightning have been warming up, however the league’s ice crew instantly patched it up.
No less than one Lightning participant thought the standard ought to be higher.
Proper wing Nikita Kucherov, who’s meticulous about particulars, known as the ice “horrible.”
“Hopefully no person will get harm and all people stays wholesome,” Kucherov stated. “It’s enjoyable, however the ice, man, come on. You possibly can’t do Formulation 1 within the [expletive] filth, you recognize?”
Defenseman J.J. Moser wasn’t as crucial, saying the ice was a “little sluggish.”
“It was a little bit chippy,” he stated. “It had a few holes. However I suppose you’ll be able to’t actually anticipate an excessive amount of from that. It’s nearly adjusting.
“It’s definitely going to be a learn tomorrow while you heat as much as see how the ice is. And then you definitely in all probability wish to begin a little bit less complicated into the sport, in all probability not do loopy behind-your-back drop passes for those who don’t know the place it’s gonna go or if it’s gonna cease. So in all probability simply begin easy after which see from there the way it goes and the way comfy you are feeling.”
Defenseman Ryan McDonagh — who will play in his sixth out of doors sport, probably the most of any participant within the sport — stated he thought the ice was nice.
“There have been a pair holes, clearly to be anticipated, however I believed it was nice,” McDonagh stated. “The boards appeared fairly regular, and the glass, too. These guys, the league, have achieved this so many instances, in order that they know what they’re doing, and I believe the tent actually helped them dial it in.”
Saturday was the primary time that skates touched the ice, and the league will proceed to work to enhance the standard of the sheet, even after the tent comes off.
NHL vice chairman of services and operations Derek King stated earlier within the week that the league meets with the groups after the practices to soak up suggestions and regulate.
The climate for Sunday is anticipated to be preferrred, however King stated it additionally may be so unpredictably chilly that they’ll must heat the sheet.
“We’ll pay shut consideration to our temperatures, ensure that all the things’s good for the groups,” King stated Thursday. “If something does come up, we’ll speak to them after [practice].”
This group has waited a very long time for the dream of an out of doors sport in Tampa to develop into a actuality, and Cooper made certain all of his gamers have been capable of expertise the day-before buzz of the Stadium Sequence. Injured gamers Brayden Level, Emil Lilleberg and Charle-Edouard D’Astous participated in observe however aren’t anticipated to play. Even emergency backup goalie Kyle Konin was on the ice.
“It was like hockey-school observe,” Cooper stated. “We had 10 defensemen on the market. The half that’s robust is that solely 20 folks get to play, and we now have a bunch of men which were a giant a part of this group and gained’t get to swimsuit up. …
“It’s such a singular occasion that you just wish to simply ensure that all people’s part of it, and so they really feel part of it.”
Hedman anticipated to return
From the time Lightning captain Victor Hedman determined to have surgical procedure to restore an injured proper elbow, Feb. 1 was at all times the goal date for his return.
He wished to get again for the Stadium Sequence sport and likewise guarantee he was able to play for his native Sweden throughout his first Winter Olympics in just a few weeks.
However main as much as Sunday, Hedman didn’t wish to get forward of himself. Even after Saturday’s observe, when he acquired congratulatory stick faucets in the course of a stretch circle, he didn’t assure a return.
When requested about Hedman’s standing, Cooper stated, “Barring him coming in [Sunday] and saying, ‘No,’ which I believe is extraordinarily uncertain, he’ll most certainly be in [Sunday]. The nation of Sweden can take an enormous breath.”
It will be Hedman’s first sport since Dec. 9. He’s missed 34 of the Lightning’s final 37 video games.
Deal with priceless 2 factors
Outdoors of all of the spectacle, what’s primarily essential for the Lightning is getting two factors. Tampa Bay went into Saturday main the Atlantic Division with 72 factors and a .692 level proportion whereas driving a 16-1-1 stretch.
However Boston sits within the second wild-card playoff spot. The Bruins are 12-2-1 of their final 15 video games, and Sunday’s sport is the primary of three earlier than the Olympic break (all in opposition to division groups).
The Lightning host Buffalo on Tuesday and Florida on Thursday.
“Our division simply doesn’t cease successful, so there’s not a lot respiration room, and we obtained three divisional video games earlier than the break,” left wing Brandon Hagel stated. “So we’re gonna deal with this sport like another. Clearly, the thrill, family and friends within the constructing, however on the similar time, it’s our home-ice benefit. We wish to are available in right here and do it for our followers as nicely.”
