Game Fifty-One: New York Islanders (23-20-7) at Tampa Bay Lightning (27-20-3)
Time: 7:00 PM EST
Location: Amalie Arena, Tampa
TV/Stream/Radio: FDSNSUN, MSGSN, ESPN+, 102.5 FM, Lightning App
Odds: Lightning -170
Know the Opponents: Lighthouse Hockey
If the Lightning are a team eager to leave the cold, dreary days of January behind, the New York Islanders represent the other end of the spectrum, hoping that the good times keep rolling. After entering the new year well behind the pack in regards to the playoff race, the Islanders posted a 9-3-0 month which includes the six-game winning streak they’re currently on as they head into Tampa tonight.
It would be simplistic to pin their current success on just one player, but we’re a rather simple website, so we’re going to lay all of the credit at the feet of goaltender Ilya Sorokin. Over the last month, the netminder is 7-2-0 with a .938 Saver Percentage, 1.75 Goals Against Average, and 9.66 Goals Saved Above Average. So, yeah, the Lightning skaters, who haven’t been William Tell-ing the puck into the net of late, are going to have their work cut out for them tonight.
It’s been harped on by writers, coaches, and other talking heads, but the Lightning haven’t been playing that badly over the last week or so. That’s not to say they’ve been perfect, still a few too many instances of blown coverage in their own zone, and not enough success on second-chances in front of their opponents, but the work ethic has been there, and they’ve been generating chances. The luck turned for them a little against Los Angeles, but now is not the time to take a breath or relax. They need two points tonight, and the only way they’re going to get it is by finding ways to turn their chances into goals.
There was a little bit of life from the new third line of Zemgus Girgensons, Nick Paul, and Gage Goncalves as they generated seven shots on goal and four scoring chances against a solid Los Angeles defense. If that line can start cashing in, it’ll alleviate some of the pressure on the top six to keep financing the offense. Of course, as we type this, we see the possibility that there could be some more changes tonight as Anthony Cirelli is a game-time decision. If he were to miss the game, Paul probably takes his spot on the second line and Conor Geekie moves down to center the third line.
Expect another competitive, close-scoring game tonight as two teams take to the ice that want and need the two points up for grabs.
Potential Lines
Tampa Bay Lightning
Forwards:
Jake Guentzel | Brayden Point | Nikita Kucherov |
Brandon Hagel | Anthony Cirelli (?) | Conor Geekie |
Zemgus Girgensons | Nick Paul | Gage Goncalves |
Mitchell Chaffee | Luke Glendening | Cameron Atkinson |
Defense:
Victor Hedman | Darren Raddysh |
Ryan McDonagh | Erik Cernak |
Emil Lilleberg | Nick Perbix |
Goaltenders:
Andrei Vasilevskiy |
Matt Tomkins |
New York Islanders
Forwards:
Anders Lee | Bo Horvat | Mathew Barzal |
Anthony Duclair | Brock Nelson | Kyle Palmieri |
Casey Cizikas | J.G. Pageau | Simon Holmstrom |
Maxim Tsyplakov | Kyle Maclean | Marc Gatcomb |
Defense:
Alexander Romanov | Tony DeAngelo |
Adam Pelech | Scott Perunovich |
Adam Boqvist (?) | Scott Mayfield |
Goaltenders:
Ilya Sorokin |
Jakub Skarek |