Game Seventeen: Tampa Bay Lightning (9-6-1) at Pittsburgh Penguins (7-10-3)
Time: 7:00 PM EST
Location: PPG Arena
TV/Stream/Radio: FDSNSUN, SN-PIT, ESPN+, 102.5 FM
Odds: Lightning -155
For the thousands of fans in attendance tonight, and for the tens of thousands of fans watching around the world, tonight’s Lightning game might feature a couple of impressive milestones. Hometown hero and former wunderkind, Sidney Crosby, is sitting on 599 career regular-season goals. His next one will vault him into ratified air as the 21st member of the NHL to crest the 600 goal mark. On the other side of the ice, Nikita Kucherov can become just the third member of the Lightning organization to hit the 900 point mark in the regular season.
The chances of both of those things happening is pretty good as Crosby has 24 goals in 49 career games against the Bolts, while Nikita Kucherov has points in 15 of his 16 games played this season. Shout-out to the Nashville Predators for keeping him off the score sheet. That might be their best accomplishment this season.
While the march to milestones makes for great copy, and the Lightning are sure to celebrate Kucherov’s eventual achievement, they are striving for something greater – two points in the standings. After impressive home victories against Winnipeg and New Jersey, Tampa Bay has to find a way to pick up wins on the road, or else all of that hard work is wasted.
They’ve picked up just six points in eight road games this year, primarily due to their inability to keep the puck out of the net. Only Montreal has allowed more goals on average away from home than Tampa Bay’s 4.13. In five of their eight games, the Bolts have allowed five or more goals. As you can guess, it’s hard to win when they’re digging that many picks out of their net, with their lone victory coming against New Jersey.
The wins against the Jets and Devils featured a renewed focus on defense, highlighted by a simpler approach to clearing pucks and limiting dangerous chances. If they can maintain that approach on the road, there is a good chance they can pick up the win.
Aiding in the cause is the likely return of Brayden Point. He was spotted at practice yesterday, and Gage Goncalves was loaned back to Syracuse. Nick Paul and Anthony Cirelli filled in admirably during Point’s absence, but having the top center back in the line-up will allow everyone to slide back into their usual positions.
Outside of Crosby’s chase for 600, it’s been a lackluster season for the Penguins. Earlier this month, they traded Lars Eller to their division rivals, the Washington Capitals, a move that indicates a massive retooling of the roster may be in the near future. Rumors are that everyone on the roster outside of their captain could be had for the right price as general manager Kyle Dubas looks to build for the future beyond Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Prospects like Owen Pickering and Rutger McGroarty have already made their debuts this season, and there could be more on the way as Pittsburgh slips away from a playoff spot.
Malkin (19 points) and Crosby (19 points) are leading the way, but not getting much support after that. Despite a roster full of recognizable names, they are 22nd in scoring, averaging just 2.70 goals per game.
It is set to be a memorable night in Pittsburgh, but the Lightning need to avoid all of the hoopla and grind out another two points.
