A good night to stop a bad streak: Lightning at Jets preview

Game 60: Tampa Bay Lightning (38-17-4) at Winnipeg Jets (24-26-10)

Time: 8:00 PM EST

Location: Canada Life Centre, The Heart of the 204

TV/Stream/Radio: The Spot, ESPN+, TSN3, 102.5 FM, Lightning App

Odds: Lightning -186

Know the Opponents: Arctic Ice Hockey

It wasn’t that long ago where it came so easy for the Tampa Bay Lightning. The goals, the saves, the wins. A month ago the Lightning were riding at the top of the world. It would be a bit melodramatic to say they’ve stumbled to the bottom of the mountain, but they’ve definitely skidded down a few feet. It’s time for them to dig their heels in and start climbing again.

The Winnipeg Jets present an interesting opponent. They are out of the playoff hunt (we’re pretty sure) but they are still a pretty good team. Coming out of the break they are 2-0-2 with all four games going to overtime. Outside of the five goals they allowed to Anaheim, they haven’t allowed more than two in a game.

If the Bolts are going to snap their three-game losing streak, they’re going to have to tighten things up and get back to simple hockey. Get the puck out of their zone. Get the puck into the other team’s zone. Get in front of the net and shoot the puck. The compete level against Minnesota was better than it was against Buffalo, but it still needs to go up another level.

Puck retrieval will be a big factor tonight. There have been a few too many one-and-done shifts in the offensive zone lately. The Lightning have to get back to winning puck battles and keeping the other team on their heels. They are at their best when they’re first on pucks and generating two or three shot attempts per shift. If they can get back to those types of shifts, things will be okay.

It’s been a rough week or so, but all they can do is move on. Can’t change the past, so it’s time to focus on the present. One shift at a time.

Coach Jon Cooper tinkered with the lines a little throughout the game and it will be interesting to see what they roll with tonight. Does Jake Guentzel swap with Nikita Kucherov or do they play together? Does he break up the Yanni Gourde line? Can Conor Geekie see more than 10 minutes a night?

If they can score first, that might relieve some of the pressure they’ve put on themselves over the last few outings. An early lead will let them settle into their rhythm and things will seem easier again.

Potential Lines

Tampa Bay Lightning

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Winnipeg Jets

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