• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Other Leagues
AHL

Lightning Prospects Off to Hot Start with Crunch

By Matt Metcalf November 21st, 2012

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Brett Connolly continues to develop his game with the Crunch during the lockout.

A year after winning the Calder Cup as the Norfolk Admirals, Tampa Bay Lightning prospects are now suiting up for the Syracuse Crunch, picking up right where they left off a season ago. The Crunch have a six point cushion atop the East Division, with a 10-2-1-1 record through 14 games, which is good for 22 points.

Cory Conacher and Tyler Johnson, two undrafted players, were two key forwards in Norfolk’s Calder Cup run last season and have led the way offensively for the Crunch so far this season. Conacher currently ranks fourth in the entire AHL in points with 17, while Johnson ranks tenth in the league with 15 and is tied for first in the league with 10 goals.

Tampa Bay’s first round pick in 2010, Brett Connolly, is looking good through the first fourteen games of the season, getting his first taste of AHL action. Connolly spent the 2011-12 season with the Lightning in the NHL, dressing in 68 games, compiling 15 points and a minus-9 rating in his rookie campaign. The lockout may benefit a player like Connolly, who will get additional time to adjust to the professional game. It’s looking like it’s paying dividends so far, with Connolly compiling six goals and six assists for 12 points in 14 games.

A player who can’t be forgotten is goaltender Dustin Tokarski. Tokarski, who was a fifth round pick of the Lightning in the 2008 NHL Draft, was possibly the most pivotal piece to Norfolk’s success last season. He posted a phenomenal 32-11-0-0 record last season, with a 2.23 goals against average and a .913 save percentage. It was more of the same in the Calder Cup playoffs for Tokarski, posting a 12-2-0-0 record, and adding three shutouts. He’s picked up right where he left off last year, getting off to another great start this season. Tokarski has a 7-1-1-0 record already this season, which has been a big part of his team’s early success.

We’ll have to sit tight to see if these kids have what it takes to make another Calder Cup run. I wouldn’t put it past them, as they certainly have the pieces to do it.

 

Follow me on Twitter: @Matt_Metcalf

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 18th 10:25 AM
Edmonton Oilers

3 Takeaways From Oilers Loss to the Canadiens

Jan 18th 10:15 AM
Column

Penguins Weekly: Rough Opening Week With Lessons to Learn

Jan 18th 10:05 AM
Column

Canucks Stock Watch: Hoglander, Boeser Up, Virtanen, Power Play Down

Jan 18th 9:55 AM
Buffalo Sabres

Sabres Need Some Early Season Tweaks to Their Lineup

Jan 18th 9:45 AM
Arizona Coyotes

Tocchet Has Coyotes Clicking On All Cylinders

Jan 18th 9:35 AM
New York Islanders

New York Islanders Open Season With Mixed Results

Jan 18th 9:25 AM
Column

Canadiens News and Rumors: Dubois, ECHL, Prospects & More

Jan 18th 9:15 AM
Calgary Flames

Flames Weekly: Impressive Shutout Follows Shaky Season Opener

Jan 18th 9:05 AM
Winnipeg Jets

Shorthanded Jets Face Tough Early Test

Jan 18th 8:55 AM
Boston Bruins

6 Bruins Standouts from Opening Series Versus Devils

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information