New Jersey made official what we all already knew on Thursday.
Lightning legend Ondrej Palat is now a Devil.
Good for Palat on [nervously sweats through keyboard refusing to type “getting his bag”] getting the late-career contract he deserves. The Bolts will now enter next season with its big-name core intact and noticeably different depth.
But before we move on, I’d like to share a trio of times when Palat’s beautiful play and penchant for crucial moments caused me to suffer from postural hypotension. It’s always fascinated me how different Lightning players can make me feel a distinct variety of hockey euphoria.
A gorgeous Nikita Kucherov pass will mostly evoke something similar to taking a bite of a perfectly fresh Italian pasta.
A streak of Andrei Vasilevskiy saves will mostly make me want to run through a wall.
Odrej Palat goals make me pass the hell out.
It’s not hyperbole. Just the mildly embarrassing truth. Three times over.
It’s a grainy upload, but that’s Dr. Drej sending an erroneous pass off the back of Carey Price’s skate to seal Game 2 of the 2021 Stanley Cup Final. This is the most a goal has felt like a crisp, game-winning Tim Duncan bank shot. It looks simple, but the execution is precise and elite—enough to send me out of my seat far too fast for my blood circulation to handle in the 300 level.
Blackout Level: Frank Ricard edging out James Carville in a debate.
Fresh off a three-hour flight, a quick trip to Wynkoop Brewing Company and 5,279 feet of altitude, Pally sent an entirety of visiting Bolts fans into a frenzy—and myself into a head high of bright lights and cool floating circles in my retinas. A stunning five-hole to put the Bolts up for good and keep the Stanley Cup Final alive for one more game.
Blackout Level: Allie Hamilton seeing Noah Calhoun’s picture in the newspaper.
That’s Sneaky P shifting the entire course of the 2022 Eastern Conference Final in the final minute of Game 3 vs. the Rangers. Perhaps I went to a mild pre-party before this long Sunday game. And perhaps there was a lot of wine at this pre-party. And perhaps I had a few too many glasses of said wine. And perhaps I don’t drink a ton of wine at 11 a.m. very often. But prior evidence tells me it was just Palat being Palat. I’ll miss him dearly for it.
Blackout Level: Stanley Hudson taking three bull tranquilizer darts to the chest.