Game Fifteen: Winnipeg Jets (15-1-0) at Tampa Bay Lightning (7-6-1)
Time: 7:00 PM EST
Location: Amalie Arena
TV/Stream/Radio: FDSNSUN, TSN3, ESPN+, 102.5 FM
Odds: Lightning -125
There is nothing like taking a week off of hockey and then jumping back on the ice to face the best team in the league. The Winnipeg Jets, a team that has lost just one game all season, is in town to take on the Lightning, who are coming off a rare early season break. In their first meeting, the Lightning jumped out to an early 2-0 lead before things went off the tracks. A four-goal third period by the Jets (to be fair, two were empty-net goals) turned a 3-3 game into a 7-4 defeat for Tampa Bay.
Since then, the Lightning have struggled to find their game while the Jets have kept humming right along. They posted back-to-back shutouts against Utah and Colorado, and then knocked off a pair of Stanley Cup contenders in the Stars and Rangers, and have run their current winning streak to seven games. Winnipeg has yet to taste the bitterness of defeat on the road, posting an 8-0 record (although Seattle did take them to overtime before losing).
As for the Bolts, they’ve picked up points in three straight home games, but did lose in overtime to the Flyers their last time out. They’ve had six days to think about what they’ve done wrong, and after a few practices, should have some idea on how to get back to playing winning hockey.
In their history, they’ve been okay coming off of long breaks. According to the stats wizards at the NHL, the Lightning are 17-10-3 in games after four or more days off since 2018-19. The .621 points percentage is pretty good, but their 3.21 goals allowed per game is the highest of any breakdown in regards to days off between games. For their part, the Jets should be fairly well rested as they’ve only played once in the last four nights.
Tampa Bay was back at practice yesterday with one noticeable absence. Brayden Point did not take part in the session, and according to Eddie Encina, there was no update on his status.
That could be part of the reason the team recalled Gage Goncalves on Wednesday. The young forward picked up another two assists in his brief loan to Syracuse during the break, and will be looking to pick up his first NHL points if he gets into the game tonight.
Even if Point is back, there is a chance that Goncalves gets into the game. As Geo pointed out in our Slack chat, the Bolts could use a boost in their bottom-six scoring and Gage could provide that. Who would be the odd skater out if the rookie does get into the game? Well, it would probably be Cam Atkinson. The former Blue Jacket and Flyer has struggled to produce in his first season with the Bolts.

Those aren’t pretty numbers for the 35-year-old who has just one assist in eleven games this season. While Atkinson did take shifts on the second line with Nick Paul and Jake Guentzel, Goncalves was the one getting reps on the second power play unit. That fourth line could use a playmaker, and Gage has the ability to set up others, and plays a pretty physical game, so he would fit right in.
No matter who is in the line-up tonight, the Bolts are going to have to simplify their game and limit the mistakes they make. Winnipeg is more than capable of scoring without any help, but will make it a very long night if Tampa Bay keeps coughing the puck up and chasing the puck around the ice.
Potential Lines
Tampa Bay Lightning
Forwards
Brandon Hagel – Anthony Cirelli – Nikita Kucherov
Jake Guentzel – Nick Paul – Cam Atkinson
Gage Goncalves – Conor Geekie – Mitchell Chaffee
Zemgus Girgensons – Luke Glendening – Mikey Eyssimont
Defense
Victor Hedman – JJ Moser
Ryan McDonagh – Erik Cernak
Lilleberg – Perbix
Goaltender
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Winnipeg Jets
Forwards
Kyle Connor – Mark Scheifele – Gabriel Vilardi
Cole Perfetti – Vlad Namestnikov – Nikolaj Ehlers
Nino Niederreiter – Adam Lowry – Mason Appleton
Morgan Barron – Rasmus Kupari – Alex Iafallo
Defense
Josh Morrissey – Dylan Demelo
Dylan Samberg – Neal Pionk
Haydn Fleury – Colin Miller
Goaltender
Connor Hellebuyck