Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Nashville Predators: Will the Tampa Bay winning streak continue against Nashville?

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Nashville Predators: GAME 27

Time: 4:00 pm Eastern Time

Location: Amalie Arena

Broadcast/Streaming: Fox SUN, Sportsnet, NHL Network

Opponent SBNation Site: On the Forecheck

The banner raising ceremony gave the Tampa Bay Lightning an emotional and motivational boost, which they needed after a frustrating loss against the Detroit Red Wings. That helped the Lightning to extend their winning streak against the Nashville Predators – including last season, the Lightning have now won six consecutive games against them. The Bolts’ point streak already consists of seven games.

The Lightning’s offence finally showed up after having a relatively unlucky game against the Red Wings, where they lost the game despite putting 60 shots on the opponents’ net. They managed to respond to the Predators’ third period attempt to come back and ended the game with a solid margin. The Lightning’s defence still wasn’t perfect – they didn’t make ridiculous mistakes as in the previous game, but still allowed the opponent to control the possession and shot quality.

Tyler Johnson had another strong game as center of their new line with Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow. He scored an opening goal against the Predators on Saturday, finishing off the rush started by Blake Coleman. Later in the third period Johnson assisted on Coleman’s goal, when the score was just 4-3 in favor of the Lightning. Their line really dominated while being on the ice, controlling 75.00 CF% of shots at 5-on-5 and finished the game with 67.21 xGF%. Johnson now has five points in the last five games.

Erik Cernak is another Lightning player who’s having a solid stretch lately. In the last game he grabbed two primary assists on both first period goals and had a strong game at his own end. In the last four games he scored five points, which is more than the total amount of points from his previous 19 games of the season. Given that Cernak struggled with minor injuries this season and three times couldn’t finish the game, that’s a good sign.

The Predators entered Saturday’s game with six rookies. They are already missed six players before that game, including their two top defensemen and top goalie, and additionally lost defenseman Mark Borowiecki right before the game. Their young defensive core however played a solid game against the Bolts and their offence received unexpected support from bottom lines.

The Lightning returned to the 11/7 combination in the last game with Luke Schenn playing as a seventh defenceman. At the morning skate before that game, Taylor Raddysh practiced on the fourth line with Pat Maroon and Mathieu Joseph, but eventually remained scratched. According to Erik Erlendsson, Raddysh is expected to make his NHL debut soon.

Today’s game is unusual for a weekday, scheduled for 4:00 pm. After tonight’s game the Lightning are heading to Dallas for a game with the Stars and then returning back to Tampa. Starting today the Lightning will play five games in a seven-day span.

Tampa Bay Lightning Lines

(based on the previous game)

Forwards

Ondrej Palat - Brayden Point - Anthony Cirelli

Alex Killorn - Yanni Gourde - Steven Stamkos

Barclay Goodrow - Tyler Johnson - Blake Coleman

Pat Maroon - Mathieu Joseph

Defense

Victor Hedman - Cal Foote

Ryan McDonagh - Erik Cernak

Mikhail Sergachev - Jan Rutta

Luke Schenn

Goalies

Andrei Vasilevskiy

Curtis McElhinney

Nashville Predators Lines

(based on the previous game)

Forwards

Filip Forsberg - Ryan Johansen - Viktor Arvidsson

Mikael Granlund - Rem Pitlick - Calle Jarnkrok

Nick Cousins - Colton Sissons - Eeli Tolvanen

Yakov Trenin - Michael Mccarron - Mathieu Olivier

Defense

Mattias Ekholm - Alexandre Carrier

Ben Harpur - Jeremy Davies

Matt Benning - Frederic Allard

Goalies

Pekka Rinne

Kasimir Kaskisuo