Back to work: Canucks at Lightning preview

Game Eighteen: Vancouver Canucks (8-9-2) at Tampa Bay Lightning

Time: 5:00 PM EST

Location: Benchmark International Arena, once known as the Ice Palace

TV/Stream/Radio: Scripps, SNP, ESPN+, 102.5 FM, Lightning App

Odds: Lightning -175

Know the Opponents: The Canuck Way

Less than 24 hours after beating the Florida Panthers, the Tampa Bay Lightning are back on the ice to take on a rested Vancouver Canucks. At least they’ll be doing it on home ice. After the emotional involvement for last night’s game, tonight’s match offers a different challenge – the trap game.

All of the makings are there:

• coming off of a game against a rival
• playing an out-of-conference team
• playing a team that is struggling
• back-up goalie in net

It’ll be another make-shift line-up for the Bolts as it’s unlikely any of their injured players may return tonight, so they’ll be leaning on a little more will than skill for the second straight game. One of the nice aspects of the win against the Panthers was the contribution of the Jack Finley line. Not only did they score a goal, they spent most of their time on the ice in the Panthers’ zone.

That’s the type of effectiveness that can help in trap games, as can a solid performance from the back-up goaltender. Jonas Johansson has been pretty good when called upon, picking up three wins in four starts while posting a career-high .913 SV% and a career-low 2.83 GAA. He’s done that while facing a higher-volume of shots than Andrei Vasilevskiy. On the season, he’s seen an average of 32.58 shots every 60 minutes versus Vasy’s 26.88. The bulk of those shots are coming from what is considered mid-danger range, an area JoJo has been a little wonky as he’s posted an .800 SV%.

It’ll be his first start with the depleted roster in front of him, but he’ll also be facing a Vancouver team that isn’t icing their best line-up. Goaltender Thatcher Demko is on injured reserve a long with (sit down, this could take a minute) Teddy Blueger, Nils Hoglander, Flilip Chytil, Derek Forbort, and Jonathan Lekkerimaki. Filip Hronek took a high hit in the loss to Carolina and was pulled by the concussion spotters. The biggest loss could be dynamic defenseman Quinn Hughes, who missed the Carolina game and is day-to-day.

So yeah, keep an eye on the statsheet to see who is actually playing tonight.

One of the few sore spots in last night’s win was the continued struggles of the power play. They went 0-for-4, and after their first opportunity, they failed to generate much pressure. Entries were a big issue against the Panthers, and their high-pressure system led to the Lightning having problems on the few times they were able to get the puck in the zone.

If there is a silver lining to be had, the Canucks have the worst penalty kill in the league, clocking in at a dismal 66.1%. They are at least consistent as their home PK% is 65.4% and their road PK% is 66.7%. Confidence plays a big part in power play success, and if the Bolts can grab a couple of special-teams goals tonight, it could help them get on a roll.

The Lightning are 1-1-1 in the second-half of back-to-back games this season with two of the games going to overtime, so there could be some extra hockey in the future. Unlike some of their other back-to-backs, they don’t have an extra day to rest as they roll into the busy part of their season with seven games over the next thirteen days.

Potential Lines

Tampa Bay Lightning

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Vancouver Canucks

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