Kings at Lightning Preview and GDT: Get back on track

Game #42 – Los Angeles Kings (20-10-6) at Tampa Bay Lightning (19-17-5)
Time: 7:00 PM EST
Location: Amalie Arena
Broadcast/Streaming: BSSUN, BSW, NHL Network

Opponent’s Site: Los Angeles Kings

Preview

The good news is that the Lightning are back at home. The other good news is that they are catching the L.A. Kings on a five-game losing streak. After rocketing out to one of the best starts in the league, the Kings have come back to the pack a bit with their recent struggles, but still remain a tough team to play against. Their losses have all been close contests, as four games have been decided by just one goal, including two shootout losses.

The offense has cooled off recently as they’ve put up just 10 goals over their recent skid. It hasn’t been their goalscoring that has them in the playoff race, through. They are a very strong defensive team, allowing just 2.38 goals per game while also ranking in the top three in scoring chances allowed and high-danger chances against.

Just what a team that is struggling to score at 5v5 needs, right?

The Lightning will hopefully see at least one of the injured defensemen return as Erik Cernak participated in practice on Monday. Coach Cooper seemed hopeful that his big, physical blueliner will be back in the game as the Bolts kick off the home portion of the 2024 schedule. While he might get Cernak back, it does look like Tanner Jeannot might be out for a few games. The forward took a hit behind the net in Boston and is out with a “week-to-week” type of injury per Coach Cooper.

At practice on Monday the Lightning reverted to some line combinations we saw earlier in the season with Steven Stamkos back on the top line with Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov. Brandon Hagel, whose empty-net goal in Minnesota snapped an 18-game goalless streak, skated with Anthony Cirelli and Mikey Eyssimont.

The first half of the season was a struggle for the Bolts, but they have 41 more games left to claw their way up the standings. It won’t be easy, but it is doable.

Stats Match-up

Lines

Tampa Bay Lightning Projected Lines

Forwards
Steven Stamkos – Brayden Point – Nikita Kucherov
Brandon Hagel – Anthony Cirelli – Michael Eyssimont
Alex Barré-Boulet – Nick Paul – Conor Sheary

Austin Watson – Luke Glendening – Tyler Motte

Defenders
Victor Hedman – Darren Raddysh
Calvin de Haan – Erik Cernak
Emil Lilleberg – Nick Perbix

Goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy

Jonas Johansson

Los Angeles Kings Projected Lines

Forwards
Quinton Byfield – Anze Kopitar – Adrian Kempe

Kevin Fiala – Philip Danault – Trevor Moore

Alex Laferriere – Pierre-Luc Dubois – Arthur Kaliyev

Blake Lizotte – Carl Grundstrom – Trevor Lewis

Defenders

Mikey Anderson – Drew Doughty

Vladislav Gavrikov – Brandt Clarke

Andreas Englund – Matt Roy

Goalies

Cam Talbot

Dave Rittich

Question of the Night

What better day than today to start a winning streak?