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Lightning at Jets Preview: Time to take a big test

Jan 2, 2024; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; A fallen Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) scrambles for the puck in front of Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) in the second period at Canada Life Centre. Mandatory Credit: James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY Sports

Game Twelve: Tampa Bay Lighting (7-4-0) at Winnipeg Jets (10-1-0)

Time: 3:00 PM EST

Location: Canada Life Centre

TV/Stream/Radio: FDSNSUN, TVAS, TSN3, ESPN+, 102.5 FM

Odds: Lightning +114

In their last game, the Tampa Bay Lightning had a chance to exact some revenge on Minnesota, but a couple of third-period miscues turned a 1-1 game into a 5-3 loss.

“We shot ourselves in the foot a few times and in this league, you can’t do that. Every little goal matters, every little play matters. And it was a tough one today,” is how Mitchell Chaffee put it after the game.

Against the 10-1 Winnipeg Jets, the Lightning can’t afford to make the same sort of mistakes or the Jets will skate them off of the ice. On paper this is not a great match-up for the Lightning as it is. Winnipeg is leading the league in goals scored at 52 while Tampa Bay is allowing 3.82 goals a game on the road and have allowed five goals in four of their last five road games. The Jets’ power play is humming along at a robust 45.2% while the Lightning’s road penalty kill is 24th at 72.7%.

Overall, the Jets have been playing solid team defense with a 2.36 goals against per game, third in the league. Connor Hellebuyck is a big reason why as he is up to his usual shenanigans with a .923 SV% and a 4.3 GSAx. That has covered up for some average possession numbers. Winnipeg is 13th in scoring chances against and 22nd in shots on goal against at 5v5. They have been good at limiting the high-danger chances as they rank 9th in the league. Their PK has also been average as they are 17th in the league at 78.3%.

So the Lightning will have some chances to score goals, but the focus should be on keeping the puck out of the net. Winnipeg has been getting a lot of production from their blue line, and shots from the point has often troubled Andrei Vasilevskiy. The forwards are going to have to get out and force the shots wide or block them to help ease the load on Vasy.

It’s cliche, but the Lightning are going to have to play all 60 minutes today. They can’t have their normal lackluster second period. Expect a playoff-level like grind to this game. That’s the level of dedication the Bolts will need in order to pull out a victory.

Potential Tampa Bay Bay Lightning Lines

Forwards:

Jake Guentzel – Brayden Point – Nikita Kucherov

Brandon Hagel – Anthony Cirelli – Conor Geekie

Mikey Eyssimont – Nick Paul – Mitchell Chaffee

Zemgus Girgensons – Luke Glendening – Cam Atkinson

Defense:

Victor Hedman – JJ Moser

Ryan McDonagh – Erik Cernak

Emil Lilleberg – Nick Perbix

Goaltender:

Andrei Vasilevskiy

Winnipeg Jets Potential Starting Lines

Forwards:

Kyle Connor – Mark Scheifele – Gabriel Vilardi

Cole Perfetti – Vlad Namestnikov – Nikolaj Ehlers

Nino Niederreiter – Adam Lowry – Mason Appleton

Morgan Barron – Rasmus Kupari – Alex Iafello

Defense:

Josh Morrissey – Dylan DeMelo

Dylan Samberg – Neal Pionk

Logan Stanley – Colin Miller

Goaltender:

Connor Hellebuyck

Eric Comrie

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