Preview: Lightning defense will be tested by red-hot Capitals offense

Game Twenty-One: Tampa Bay Lightning (11-7-2) at Washington Capitals (11-8-2)

Time: 7:00 PM EST

Location: Capital One Arena, The Nation’s Capital

TV/Stream/Radio: The Spot, MNMT, ESPN+, 102.5 FM, Lightning App

Odds: Lightning +100

Know the Opponents: Japers’ Rink

Two weeks ago, these two teams faced off in Tampa with the Lightning pulling off the 3-2 overtime win in a game where everyone got hurt. Okay, not everyone, but Ryan McDonagh blocked a shot and hasn’t played since then. Victor Hedman did something to keep him out of the line-up, and Dominic James blocked a shot with his face, which kept him out until earlier this week.

Up front, the Lightning are pretty much all put back together with Pontus Holmberg as the only regular that is still questionable to play. The backend, well, that’s still a little iffy as Hedman and McDonagh are, by all indicators, still a couple of weeks away from returning. The patchwork blueline features two, possibly three, players that, by all rights should be enjoying the season in Syracuse. Charle-Edouard D’Astous, Steven Santini, and Max Crozier weren’t on the “play multiple games in Tampa” bingo card for this season.

They’ve made it work so far, but a suddenly invigorated Washington offense may test them a bit tonight. After dropping two of the three games following the loss to the Lightning, the Capitals have won three in a row, including a back-to-back set against Edmonton and Montreal where they put up 7 and 8 goals respectively. If they can sustain some sort of scoring streak, matched with their defensive play, then they just became a team to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference.

As the two teams are wrapping up their season series (currently tied at one game apiece) it is also potentially Alexander Ovechkin’s last game against the Lightning. If it is, the Bolts have done their share in getting him into the hall of fame. Heading into tonight’s game he’s played 85 games against them and recorded 51 goals and 46 points. If he has a three-point night tonight, the Lightning will be the third team he’s recorded 100 points against with Carolina (109) leading the way followed by Atlanta/Winnipeg (102).

He has been in a bit of a scoring slump against the Lightning of late, though. In their last 10 meetings he has just 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) and he hasn’t had a multi-point effort against them since he April of 2022 when he had a goal and an assist. The clock would have to be dialed all the way back to 2015 for the last time he put up 3 or more points as he had 2 goals and 2 assists in a 5-3 Caps win on December 18th of that year.

Expect an entertaining affair no matter who is scoring the goals tonight.

Potential Lines

Tampa Bay Lightning

Forwards:

Defense:

Goaltenders:

Washington Capitals

Forwards:

Defense:

Goaltenders: