Good. Looks like we just did this a few months ago (check the calendar, well we did it a few months ago!) It’s playoff time! The Tampa Bay Lightning is back in the playoffs and we at Raw Charge are ready to provide the best possible coverage to a group of writers spread across North America. Hope this will be a nice long hike and you enjoy the coverage.

While we don’t have a timeline just yet, I wanted to walk you through what we’re going to do here on the site to deliver all the relevant news throughout the playoffs. There isn’t much of a change from the daily coverage you see here throughout the season, we just add a little extra seasoning to it.

The day will begin with our Lightning Round which will include scores from across the league as well as anything that could have happened. We will also have the daily schedule of games and where you can find them on your TV dial (or your favorite internet streaming site). Chances are the first round will be run by regional sports networks with a handful of games on the NBC platform.

On game days for the Lightning, we’ll have our previews with aftershocks, injuries, and storylines. We’ll also be using Game Day Previews as a discussion thread. So if you want to stop by and chat with other commentators during the game, this will be the post to do it. After the game we will have a brief recap with the relevant details of the game.

The next day we will have our reflections the next morning which will dig a little deeper into the game from the night before. If there is anything that deserves its own article (like Pat Maroon putting Radko Gudas through the glass), it will also be published the next day.

We will wait until everything is finished to do our season review / player ratings. After all, it’s not like we need to research who the Lightning might write in the first round this summer.

We appreciate everyone who stopped by and read what we posted on the site during the regular season. Thank you also for your comments and suggestions. We look forward to the fun (and stress) of the next two months.

Lightning Links

Daniel Walcott’s journey in the NHL

There aren’t many NHL players who have taken Walcott’s major league path. A course that includes high school hockey in Chicago, college hockey in Missouri, QMJHL, ECHL and AHL. Add to it some shoulder surgeries and a change of position and it is the very model of perseverance.

How to watch the battle of the oranges

the Tampa Bay Times provided a good guide on how to watch the games, ticket prices and the deal with Thunder Alley.

Stamkos is Lightning’s Masterton candidate

Steven Stamkos quickly transforms into Susan Lucci of the Masterton Trophy. For the fourth time in his career, the local PHWA nominated the captain for the award that “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. It’s a testament to his tenacity that he came back from so many injuries in his career and continued to perform at a high level. If he were to win, he would be the second player in franchise history, after John Cullen, to do so.

Lightning and ProWire improve the gaming experience

Fans attending Lightning games will be able to experience in-game commentary, ice rink microphones and exclusive content through their mobile device and the NHL app. Hope they have improved the WiFi in the arena.

NHL News

The best candidates for coaching and general manager positions in the NHL

ESPN polled 22 people in and around the NHL to see who could be part of the next wave of general managers and coaches. I had to double check it to make sure I didn’t miss it, but there was no mention of Benoit Groulx. On the one hand it’s good because it means he can stay with Syracuse. On the other, really? His track record of preparing prospects to join the Lightning is pretty darn good.

31 Thoughts

Mr. Friedman discusses Jack Eichel’s situation in Buffalo, the coaching research and interesting information about the possibility of Jon Cooper coaching Team Canada at the Olympics.

ESPN maintains coverage status quo

Ray Ferrero returns to ESPN. The man known as “Chicken Parm” would join ESPN / ABC’s cover for next season. Will the mouse unite the NHL2Night team? Brian Boucher is rumored to be making the jump as well.

NHL partners with Erin Andrews on women’s clothing line

The former Sunshine Sports reporter has entered into a multi-year agreement to supply a clothing line representing all 32 NHL teams. WEAR by Erin Andrews will launch a collection of “jackets, t-shirts, sweatshirts, leggings, crop tops, button-down shirts, loungewear and sleepwear” this fall.

Patrick Laine does not play at the Worlds this summer

Google Translate might not be the most accurate translation out there, but it looks like Patrick Laine hasn’t had such a good year. Hopefully a few months off will allow him to regain the joy of the game,