x

Already member? Login first!

Comments / New

Sabres at Lightning Preview: Ch-ch-ch-changes in the line-up

Mar 24, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Jonas Johansson (31) pokes the puck during the second period against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports

Game Eighty: Buffalo Sabres (35-37-7) at Tampa Bay Lightning (45-26-8)

Time: 6:00 PM EST

Location: Amalie Arena, Tampa

TV/Stream/Radio: FDSNSUN, MSG-B, ESPN+, 102.5 FM, Lightning App

Odds: Lightning -278

Know the Opponents: Die By the Blade

Story Lines and Notes

Whelp. It’s funny how fast things change. After writing up a preview last night based on the information we had at the time, we had to scrap it once word trickled out from the morning skate. We knew Luke Glendening was out. We didn’t know Oliver Bjorkstrand would be as well. That led to a Conor Geekie recall and a massive juggling of the lines (see below).

Congratulations to the Tampa Bay Lightning for making the end of the season a little more dramatic than it needs to be. With their chances of the division title fading (but not fully eliminated yet*) they’re taking on a Buffalo Sabres team that beat them on the road, and they’re doing it with a depleted roster.

If there is any consolation, the Lightning tend to play their best when challenged, so perhaps the recent roster hardships will bring out a spirited effort tonight against a Sabres team that played, and lost in a shootout, Saturday night. This is the third straight opponent that is facing the Lightning on zero days rest, something that you don’t see very often. So far, the Bolts have left a couple of points on the table against the Maple Leafs and Red Wings, so it would be nice if they complete the trifecta with a regulation victory.

Not only would that keep them in the hunt for the division title, it would help stave off the Panthers for home-ice advantage in the first-round should the Bolts not catch the Maple Leafs. The Lightning also need a solid 60-minute effort, something that we haven’t seen in a few outings.

Jonas Johansson was the first off of the ice for the morning skate, so he’ll get another crack at one of his former teams. He was fantastic against them last Saturday, stopping 36-of-38 shots in the 3-2 shootout loss.

*Toronto can clinch with any type of win coupled with any type of Lightning loss, or if they pick up one point and the Lightning lose in regulation.

Potential Lines

Tampa Bay Lightning

Forwards:

Yanni GourdeBrayden PointNikita Kucherov
Brandon HagelAnthony CirelliJake Guentzel
Gage GoncalvesNick PaulConor Geekie
Zemgus GirgensonsMitchell Chaffe

Defense:

Victor HedmanJ.J. Moser
Ryan McDonaghErik Cernak
Emil LillebergDarren Raddysh/Nick Perbix

Goaltenders:

Jonas Johansson
Andrei Vasilevskiy

Buffalo Sabres

Forwards:

Zach BensonJiri KulichTage Thompson
JJ PeterkaRyan McLeodJack Quinn
Jason ZuckerPeyton KrebsAlex Tuch
Beck MalenstynNoah OstlundSam Lefferty

Defense:

Mattias SamuelssonRasums Dahlin
Owen PowerJacob Bernard-Docker
Bowen ByramConnor Clifton

Goaltenders:

James Reimer
Ukko-Pekka Luukonen
If you enjoyed this article please consider supporting RawCharge by subscribing here, or purchasing our merchandise here.

Support RawCharge by using our Affiliate Link when Shopping Hockey Apparel !

Talking Points