New Jersey

How Lightning recaptured playoff-winning form in New York/New Jersey

Published

3 months ago

February 25, 2024

How Lightning recaptured playoff-winning form in New York/New Jersey

NEWARK, N.J. â Inside the Lightning locker room, the postseason already has begun.

Though 22 games remain on their regular-season schedule, they have to outlast several teams chasing them to make the playoffs. This Lightning team is a different group from the one that won consecutive Stanley Cups in 2020 and â21, but the core remembers what it takes to win in the postseason.

If the Lightning do make the postseason and have another deep run, back-to-back road wins over the Islanders and Devils this weekend, capped by Sundayâs 4-1 victory over New Jersey at Prudential Center, might be what they look back on as when their season became playoff-ready.

âIt was huge,â said defenseman Victor Hedman, who had a goal and an assist against the Devils and was one of three Lightning players who were plus-4. âWe really played desperate, and we played to our structure. We didnât cheat the game, and we played to our strengths.â

Things can change quickly at this time of the season, and the Lightning (32-23-5, 69 points) are now trending in the right direction.

After dropping three straight at home, Tampa Bay allowed three total goals in the two road wins. It took early leads and held them, earning four huge points against teams that are chasing them in the Eastern Conference standings and have games in hand.

âA lot of things have worked,â coach Jon Cooper said. âI think first and foremost, itâs our mindset and what it takes to win in the league and what it takes to win down the stretch. When you give up two goals a game or one goal a game, good things are going to happen.

âWeâre just playing the right way. Weâre not cheating for offense, weâre not beating ourselves, and thatâs something weâve done, especially on that homestand. Guys have made a conscious effort to make sure thatâs not happening, and you can see the results.â

Hereâs how the Lightning recaptured playoff-winning hockey Sunday in New Jersey.

The stars led the way

Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) shoots the puck past New Jersey Devils defensemen Luke Hughes (43) and Colin Miller (24) during the first period. [ NOAH K. MURRAY | AP ]

To win in the postseason, a teamâs best players have to be great, and the Lightningâs Nikita Kucherov has been one of the leagueâs top playoff performers over the past four seasons.

This year he has been all-world all season, and with a four-point day Sunday (one goal, three assists), he has a league-leading 102 points. Kucherov became the second active player since 1992-93 to reach 100 points in 60 games or fewer, joining Oilers superstar Connor McDavid, who did it last season.

After being held without a shot on goal in a scoreless first period, the Lightningâs top line of Brandon Hagel, Brayden Point and Kucherov took over the game in the second, putting Tampa Bay ahead 2-1. The trio posted 10 of the Lightningâs 17 even-strength shots on goal over the final 40 minutes, and Hagel cleaned up a loose puck in front of the net 9:38 into the third to give Tampa Bay a 3-1 lead and the breathing room it needed.

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Kucherov assisted on each of the Lightningâs first three goals, by Hedman, Point and Hagel, then scored into an empty net with 1:35 remaining to seal the win. He has factored into each of the Lightningâs last seven goals dating to Saturdayâs 4-2 win over the Islanders.

âHe keeps doing it, day in and day out,â said Hagel, who had a goal and two assists. âHeâs a special player. Itâs fun to watch. I have a front-row seat for myself. Heâs a competitor; he wants to win. He wants to get into the playoffs. He wants to win another Stanley Cup, and the way he plays, his work ethic, the forecheck, shows you why heâs doing what heâs doing.â

Holding the line

New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) plays the puck against Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak (81) during the second period. [ NOAH K. MURRAY | AP ]

In the playoffs, a team needs to know how to close out games, and the Lightning did an impressive job of protecting the middle of the ice and preventing dangerous scoring chances. They contested shots, blocking 25 (Hedman had six, defenseman Calvin de Haan five), and held the blue line down the stretch to prevent the Devils from entering their zone. New Jersey had just three shots on goal in the third period.

âWe sacrificed our body a lot and got into shooting lanes and had some good blocks when we needed to,â Hedman said. âThatâs what good teams do. You find ways to win.â

It made for an easier day for goaltender Jonas Johansson, who stopped the Devilsâ last eight shots after Tyler Toffoliâs power-play goal 6:01 into the second period. Johansson, starting for just the sixth time in almost three months, stopped 18 of the 19 shots he faced, improving to 3-3-0 since his playing time became more sporadic following Andrei Vasilevskiyâs return from back surgery in mid-November.

Winning at even strength

Lightning center Brayden Point (21) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the second period. [ NOAH K. MURRAY | AP ]

The Lightning have the best power play in the league, and at times they can rely too much on the man advantage for offense.

But in recent weeks, the power play has gone dry. The Lightning are 2-for-15 over their last six games, a 13.3% clip that is a far cry from their NHL-best 29.8% success rate they had going into Sunday.

It was a different story against the Devils. Aside from Kucherovâs empty-netter, all the Lightningâs goals came at even strength.

âIn the end, if you make the playoffs, oftentimes there are lots of power plays in the first round, but ultimately as the playoffs go on, power plays dry up,â Cooper said. âYouâve got to round out your 5-on-5 game if you want to go anywhere in this league.â

Contact Eduardo A. Encina at eencina@tampabay.com. Follow @EddieintheYard.

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New Jersey

The State We’re In: Saving money, helping the climate, aiding justice (New Jersey Conservation Foundation column)

Published

5 hours ago

May 20, 2024

Press Room

The State We’re In: Saving money, helping the climate, aiding justice (New Jersey Conservation Foundation column)

Interested in saving money on home energy bills? How about helping to fight climate change by reducing your carbon footprint? Or ensuring that the New Jersey communities most affected by environmental pollution get justice and help?

If so, the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 may have something to offer you – and your larger community.

A recent panel discussion moderated by the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters highlighted the many ways funding through the Inflation Reduction Act can be accessed by low- and middle-income families, along with community groups, schools, churches, nonprofit organizations and local governments.

“This is the biggest and boldest investment in our nation’s history – ever – that is taking action on climate change,” said Ed Potosnak, executive director of the NJ League of Conservation Voters. The law is projected to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030, positioning the United States to meet climate goals while investing in the economy.

The “Affordable Clean Energy Plan” within the IRA works by creating financial incentives for individuals and community organizations to invest in greener choices – whether it’s a family switching to a geothermal home heating system, or a school interested in moving to electric school buses.

“The IRA is paving the way for a cleaner and more resilient future, and it demonstrates that environmental policy can be a win-win for both our wallets and the planet,” said Potosnak.

At the same time, funding through the IRA’s “Thriving Communities Program” is advancing environmental justice for underserved and overburdened communities.

Thriving Communities grants are available for projects aimed at preventing and remediating pollution, improving climate adaptation and resilience, mitigating the urban heat island effect, and improving public health. Grants will also help train workers from disadvantaged communities for well-paying jobs in fields related to the environment and climate.

Consumer Incentives

The consumer clean energy incentives come through a combination of tax credits, rebates, and lower energy bills due to improved efficiency.

Millions of New Jerseyans are already eligible for tax credits, which make it more affordable to purchase an electric vehicle, install clean energy home heating systems, weatherize homes, and upgrade to high efficiency appliances. A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar amount taxpayers can claim on their tax returns to reduce the income tax they owe or increase their refunds.

Rebates are not yet available in New Jersey, but the system is expected to be up and running by late 2024 or early 2025. Rebates differ from tax credits in that they will be given immediately, with no need to wait until tax returns are filed.

Here are some of the tax credits currently available under the program:

Up to $7,500 on a new electric vehicle, up to $4,000 on a used electric vehicle, and up to $1,000 on an electric vehicle charger.
A 30 percent tax credit on the cost of installing clean home energy systems, such as rooftop solar panels, geothermal heat pumps, battery storage systems, and small wind turbines.
Up to $3,200 for weatherization home improvements to save energy. These include a home energy audit, new exterior doors and windows, insulation, and an upgraded electrical panel.
Up to $2,000 off a heat pump water heater.

Want to know if you’re eligible for these incentives? Go to https://homes.rewiringamerica.org/calculator and fill in information about your ZIP code, household income, and the types of improvement projects you’d like. The calculator will provide detailed information about currently available tax credits, and rebates and upfront discounts that are expected to go into effect soon.

Environmental Justice

The panel discussion also outlined the ways IRA programs can help communities reduce pollution and become healthier. Jordana Vanderselt, director of operations for the organization WeAct for Environmental Justice, noted that 40 percent of the overall benefits of IRA must flow to marginalized, underserved or overburdened communities. WeAct has been designated as the regional hub for New Jersey and New York.

WeAct doesn’t carry out projects itself, but acts as a resource to help community groups find out what grants are available through the IRA, how to apply for them, how to design projects, how to develop partnerships with other organizations, how to engage the public and interact with local government, and how to manage grants and projects.

IRA funding is available for many kinds of initiatives, including building community gardens in urban areas, planting shade trees in cities to reduce the urban heat island effect and improve air quality, and turning parking lots into “pooling zones” to reduce flooding. All projects have a workforce development component, with training available to provide community members with the knowledge and experience to find well-paying jobs.

Could your community benefit from the Thriving Communities Program funding? Visit www.weact.org/tctac/training to find out more.

New Jersey is a state that is experiencing many impacts from environmental pollution and climate change. What’s more, not all communities are experiencing impacts equally. The IRA programs offer New Jersey a chance to reduce greenhouse gases, lower consumer energy bills, and help marginalized communities get the justice they deserve!

To review a recording of the NJ League of Conservation Voters’ panel discussion, go to https://youtu.be/Hp4POr0rEzg. New Jersey Conservation Foundation is pleased to have been a co-sponsor of the webinar.

And for information about preserving New Jersey’s land and natural resources, visit the New Jersey Conservation Foundation website at www.njconservation.org or contact me at info@njconservation.org.

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New Jersey

Waffles, a spa and anime toys at American Dream: Check out North Jersey’s new businesses

Published

12 hours ago

May 20, 2024

Press Room

Waffles, a spa and anime toys at American Dream: Check out North Jersey’s new businesses

NorthJersey.com, the Daily Record and the New Jersey Herald want to keep you up to date on all the newest shops, restaurants and service providers moving into your towns. Below is a roundup of businesses that recently opened or are coming soon.

Are you opening a business in North Jersey? Get the word out to your neighbors as soon as possible. Send us your information and photos and we will try to add them to our next new-business roundup.

We’re also interested in reporting business closings. Have a tip? Contact Business Reporter Daniel Munoz at munozd@northjersey.com, or 201-270-9870.

Bandai Namco Toys and Collectibles, American Dream, East Rutherford

The company behind collectible brands and toys like Tamagotchi and Anime Heroes has toys and products for sale from popular shows like “Dragon Ball,” “One Piece,” “Gundam,” “Naruto” and “Demon Slayer.” Photo opportunities available with full-sized statues at the front of the store.

WHERE: Court G, Level 1, American Dream mall, 1 American Dream Way, East Rutherford

WHEN: Ribbon-cutting May 31. Hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit https://www.americandream.com/ or https://www.bandai.com/

Salus Per Aquam Spa, Randolph

Skin care and massage services, including skin analysis, anatomy, facial massages, waxing and skin alterations.

“Over the years, with our team of highly trained and knowledgeable professionals, we have honed expertise with a wide range of cutting-edge techniques and treatments,” said the owner, Ana Monica Gastón.

WHERE: 140 Route 10 West, Randolph

WHEN: By appointment only.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call 862-244-9900, email support@aquamhealth.com or visit https://salusperaquamspa.com/

Waffles & Dreams, Fairfield

Offering waffles, sweet and savory crepes, smoothies, shakes, pasties and grab and go options.

WHERE: 653 Route 46 West, Fairfield

WHEN: Grand opening is June 8. Hours are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. seven days a week.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit the website at https://wafflesanddreamsnj.com/ or the Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/wafflesanddreamsnj/

Daniel Munoz covers business, consumer affairs, labor and the economy for NorthJersey.com and The Record.

Email: munozd@northjersey.com; Twitter:@danielmunoz100 and Facebook

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New Jersey

New Jersey Democratic Senate Primary Debate is tonight on WBGO

Published

19 hours ago

May 19, 2024

Press Room

New Jersey Democratic Senate Primary Debate is tonight on WBGO

WBGO is running a re-broadcast of the New Jersey Democratic Senate Primary Debate tonight at 11pm.

Three Democrats running to represent New Jersey in the United States Senate squared off in a live primary debate hosted by the ACLU of New Jersey, the League of Women Voters of New Jersey, and Salvation and Social Justice, in partnership with WNYC/New Jersey Public Radio, on Monday, May 13, at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC).

The debate was free and open to the public; registration is required.

Candidates Patricia Campos-Medina, Larry Hamm, and Andy Kim participated in a debate moderated by WNYC’s Morning Edition host and WBGO’s Newark Today host Michael Hill.

The NJ Democratic Primary takes place on June 4, 2024.

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