Game #43
Time: 7:00 PM EST
Location: Amalie Arena
Broadcast/Streaming: BSSUN, MSGSN, ESPN+, HULU
Opponent’s Site: All About the Jersey
Preview
Coming off an intense 3-2 overtime win against the Los Angeles Kings, the Lightning have a chance to get a little momentum going against one of the teams that they’re battling for a wild card spot. The New Jersey Devils come into town a bit banged up, but just a point behind the Bolts for the second wild card spot. With the Lightning looking at some time off soon, the games in hand they have will start coming off the board making tonight’s contest somewhat important.
New Jersey hasn’t played since Saturday, but that really hasn’t helped their roster situation. Jonas Siegenthaler was their latest victim as he left their last game with an injury. He joins Jack Hughes, Dougie Hamilton (IR), Tomas Nosek (IR), Timo Meier, and Ondrej Palat on the walking wounded list.
Goaltending has been a bit of an issue for them as well. Vitek Vanecek has posted a 3.29 GAA and .884 SV% in 24 games, a big drop off from the 2.45 GAA, .911 SV% he posted last year. Much like the Lightning, their offense has helped keep them in the playoff race as the Devils are scoring 3.53 goals per game. Jesper Bratt is leading the way with 45 points (14 goals, 31 assists) in 38 games while Tyler Toffoli has 16 goals on the season.
While not in the must win category (after all it’s only January) it would be a nice four-point game against a team that they’re battling in the standings.
Stats Match-up
| Game #43 | Tampa Bay Lightning | New Jersey Devils |
| Overall Record | 20-17-5 | 21-15-2 |
| Home Record | 12-5-3 | 9-9-2 |
| Road Record | 8-12-2 | 12-6-0 |
| Goals For | 137 | 135 |
| Goals Against | 145 | 136 |
| xGF | 133.77 | 124.69 |
| xGA | 135.45 | 115.89 |
| Power Play | 28.6% | 28.6% |
| Penalty Kill | 80.5% | 77.0% |
| Last 10 Games | 6-4-0 | 5-4-1 |
Lines
Tampa Bay Lightning Projected Lines
Forwards
Steven Stamkos – Brayden Point – Nikita Kucherov
Brandon Hagel – Anthony Cirelli – Nick Paul
Gage Goncalves – Tyler Motte – Conor Sheary
Mikey Eyssimont – Luke Glendening – Austin Watson
Defenders
Victor Hedman – Darren Raddysh
Calvin de Haan – Erik Cernak
Emil Lilleberg – Nick Perbix
Goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Jonas Johansson
New Jersey Devils Projected Lines
Forwards
Erik Haula – Nico Hischier – Jesper Bratt
Tyler Toffoli – Dawson Mercer – Nathan Bastian
Curtiz Lazar – Michael McLeod – Alexander Holtz
Brendan Smith – Chris Tierny – Shane Bowers
Defenders
Luke Hughes – Simon Nemec
Kevin Bahl – John Marino
Colin Miller – Cal Foote
Goalies
Vitek Vanecek
Nico Daws
