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About Brett Friedlander

Brett Friedlander became a hockey fan in the heart of the deep south in the early 1970s. He became hooked the first time his father, a charter Atlanta Flames season-ticket holder, took him to a game at The Omni. His first job covering hockey was with the Annapolis Capital, where he covered the Washington Capitals and learned to do an uncanny imitation of coach Bryan Murray from 1984-93.

He's also covered the Carolina Hurricanes and Fayetteville FireAntz of the Southern Professional Hockey League for the Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer. He has also been a regular contributor to Rinkside magazine and Faceoff.com. The highlight of his writing career came on June 19,2006, when the Hurricanes beat the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 to win the Stanley Cup. His first book, "Chasing Moonlight: The True Story of Field of Dreams' Doc Graham" was released by John F. Blair, Publisher, in April 2009.

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Lighting issues no issue for Lightning Print
Southeast
Written by Brett Friedlander   
Saturday, January 16, 2010 02:23
Southeast Division notebook:

It wasn’t the longest game in NHL history, but it was certainly one of the most bizarre.

But that didn’t seem to bother the Tampa Bay Lightning, who survived a blackout, a New Jersey comeback, a new set of linesmen and a bus ride to and from Philadelphia, before finally finishing off their first win against the Devils since early in the 2007-08 season.

The silliness began with 9:27 left in the second period Friday night, when a circuit breaker at New Jersey’s Prudential Center malfunctioned, knocking out a computer that controlled the lights in the Devils’ defensive zone. Despite working on the problem for more than two hours, workmen couldn’t fix the problem, and around 10 p.m., NHL commissioner Gary Bettman ordered the game suspended.

Both teams left town to play road games on Saturday before returning to the arena to finish the final 29½ minutes on Sunday afternoon. Tampa Bay bussed to Philadelphia, where it lost 4-1 to the Flyers before returning to New Jersey to finish what it started there.

The Lightning nearly blew the 3-0 lead it held when the game was halted, but still managed to hold on for a 4-2 victory that featured numerous quirks.

Among them were:

· Lightning forward Steven Stamkos scoring two goals in the game on two different days.
· Tampa Bay scratching defensemen Mattias Ohlund and Matt Smaby in favor of Andrej Meszaros and David Hale.
· Linesmen David Brisebois and Don Henderson being replaced by Derek Nanson and Jean Moran.
· The same woman singing the national anthem on both nights.
· Only about 3,000 fans from the original crowd of 15,129, including Bettman, returning for the conclusion Sunday.

“It was a little weird,” Stamkos said. “We prepared twice for this game. It was a half-game and a half-game. The travel wasn't bad. We were in Philly, so it was only a bus ride away. It was something a lot of guys haven't experienced in a while. It felt like we were back in junior, but it was worth it.”

Although this was the first NHL game to be suspended since Nov. 22, 2005 when Detroit defenseman Jiri Fischer had a seizure on the bench and had to be revived while playing against Nashville, it wasn’t a new experience for Tampa Bay goalie Mike Smith.
While playing junior hockey for Sudbury, he was involved in a playoff game against Toronto-St. Michaels that was suspended because of lighting issues.

“We were up 3-1 in the series before the lights went out and we ended up playing the game the next day and lost in overtime, and ended up losing the series,” Smith said told the Associated Press. “It was a little better outcome this time.”

ATLANTA

Is Ilya Kovalchuk starting to be adversely affected by his contract impasse and growing trade rumors? He’s still sixth in the NHL with 27 goals and tied for 11th in points with 50, but recently went three games without scoring before finally breaking through for his team’s only goal in Thursday’s 2-1 overtime loss to Buffalo. … How badly needed was Tuesday’s 4-1 win against Ottawa? Consider that it was the Thrashers’ first regulation victory since Nov. 30, a stretch that covered 42 days and 12 games (11 of which were losses) since a 4-3 win against Florida. … That wasn’t the only long streak of futility that ended against the Senators. In the game, Todd White ended a 34-game scoring drought by netting his first goal since Oct. 29. … Despite its recent struggles, Atlanta is still a game over .500 (20-19-7) and its 47 points are just three out of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

CAROLINA

The revolving door to AHL Albany continues to turn for the Hurricanes, who called up 20-year-old left wing Drayson Bowman, their third-round pick in the 2007 entry draft. He made his NHL debut in Thursday’s 3-1 loss at Detroit. To make room on the roster, Carolina returned right wing Jerome Samson – who had an assist in his first career shift, but hadn’t done much since – back to the minors. … It’s a shame the Hurricanes don’t get to play Toronto more. Their 4-2 win against the Maple Leafs on Tuesday, despite getting outshot 40-18, was Carolina’s second this season against Toronto. The win also extended the Hurricanes’ season-best winning streak to three. It also moved Carolina to within four points of the Maple Leafs in the race to escape the Eastern Conference cellar. … Thursday’s loss in Detroit was the Hurricanes’ 14th straight (with one tie) during the regular season at Joe Louis Arena. Carolina hasn’t beaten the Red Wings on the road since Nov. 14, 1989 when the franchise was still located in Hartford.

FLORIDA

The Panthers have returned forward Shawn Matthias and defenseman Keaton Ellerby back to Rochester of the AHL. This is the fourth time this season Matthias, 22, has been sent back down to the minors. … Nathan Horton, who leads Florida with 45 points, is one point shy of surpassing his total from all of last season. … Tomas Vokoun recorded his fourth shutout of the season and the 35th of his career last Saturday by stopping all 24 shots in a 3-0 victory at Ottawa. The win salvaged two points in an otherwise pointless three-game road trip for the Panthers. … In support of those affected by the deadly earthquake in Haiti, the Panthers have decided to collect donations of cash, new or used clothing, and nonperishable food items during their home games on Wednesday against Washington and Saturday against Tampa Bay.

WASHINGTON

With starter Semyon Varlamov listed as day-to-day with an injured right knee, suffered in a rehab start in Hershey while working his way back from a groin injury, rookie Michal Neuvirth started two straight games for the Capitals. Neither went well, as he was pulled from both games in favor of Jose Theodore and Washington surrendered a combined 11 goals in a 7-4 loss to Tampa Bay and a 5-4 shootout win against Florida. … D Jeff Schultz leads the NHL in plus-minus at plus-26. Teammate Alex Ovechkin is second in the league at plus-23. … Washington’s loss to the Lightning broke a 12-game winning streak against its division rival. It was also coach Bruce Boudreau’s first win ever against Tampa Bay. … The Capitals have recalled D John Carlson from Hershey of the AHL. This is the second time the 20-year-old, who was Washington’s first-round pick in the 2008 draft, has been up with the big team.

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Last Updated on Saturday, January 16, 2010 09:27