Brett Connolly continues to impress as a Tampa Bay Lightning forward, scoring two goals in a 4-0 NHL preseason win Thursday over the Montreal Canadiens.
So how did his Lightning teammates reward the 19-year-old from Prince George?
Here's what Connolly posted on Twitter: "Great game at the bell center. Even better prank the boys pulled. Cut the legs right off my dress pants. Nothing you can do but laugh."
The fact Connolly is still with the Lightning is a sign of how well the Prince George Cougars veteran has played lately, with three goals and two assists in the past four games. He's one of 26 players the Bolts have left in camp.
With the 23-player roster deadline looming on Monday, chances are Connolly will start the season with the Lightning. NHL teams are allowed to keep junior-aged players for nine games before they have to start paying their NHL contracts. If Connolly stays, he stands to make $900,000 US this season, having signed a three year deal this summer worth $2.7 million.
"We have to consider all the options," Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman told the St. Petersburg Times, "and a lot of that is predicated on the decisions we make with Brett Connolly.
"In order for him to stay, he's going to have to play very well. We're going to give him every opportunity until we decide or he shows he can't handle it. But he continues to get better and looks real good out there."
Connolly has been playing on a line with Martin St. Louis and Steven Stamkos. His second goal Thursday in Montreal was a thing of beauty, a toe-drag deke on Habs defenceman Hal Gill that Connolly finished with a low wrist shot.
The Lightning's preseason wraps up tonight in Quebec City with rematch with the Habs. Tampa visits Carolina to start the regular season next Friday.
Former Cougar captain Dana Tyrell, as well as Mattias Ritola and Blair Jones, are all battling Connolly for a job, among 15 forwards now with the Lightning.
Kelowna Rockets forward Brett Bulmer, a native of Prince George, is still with the Minnesota Wild. Just six other WHL players remain in pro camps, including: D Dylan McIlrath (Moose Jaw/N.Y. Rangers), F Ryan Johansen (Portland/Columbus), D Joe Morrow (Portland/Pittsburgh), F Nino Niederreiter (Portland/N.Y. Islanders), F Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Red Deer/Edmonton), and F Brendan Gallagher (Vancouver/Montreal).
