Anaheim has collected three of six possible standings points (1-1-1) on the trip thus far, earning a
5-3 win Saturday in Philadelphia
and pushing the first-place Panthers to overtime Tuesday thanks to a franchise record 52 saves by John Gibson.
"That's one of the best goaltending performances that I've ever seen," head coach Dallas Eakins said. "I challenge anyone to show me a performance like that in recent history. That was incredible."
Eakins said Gibson's performance was the latest example of the goaltender's commitment to building a winning culture despite the Ducks falling out of the playoff race.
"He continues to come in every day working his tail off and preparing to win hockey games," Eakins said. "I think all of us, players, coaches and management, need to look at that and say 'that's how you come to play. That's how you prepare.'"
Eakins added Anthony Stolarz will start for Anaheim in Tampa. Stolarz stopped 30-of-33 shots to notch his career-best 11th win of the season last week in Philadelphia, knocking off the team that selected him in the second round of the 2012 NHL Draft.
Anaheim is 29-33-13 on the season, sixth in the Pacific Division, with seven games remaining on the regular-season schedule.
Tonight's game will mark the final time two of the greatest Ducks in franchise history, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, will share NHL ice. Getzlaf, who last week
announced his intention to retire
at the end of the season, assisted on 177 Perry goals in their 14 seasons together, his most of any teammate.
Perry is second in Ducks history in games played (988), goals (372) and game-winning goals (64), and third in points (776), assists (404) and power-play goals (103).
The Lightning (44-21-8, 96 points) are third in the Atlantic Dvision, trying to hold off the charging Bruins and avoid falling into a Wild Card position. Tampa Bay opens a season-long five-game homestand tonight and with a win would clinch its fifth straight postseason appearance. The Bolts would also secure a playoff berth if the Islanders lose to the Penguins tonight in regulation.
Anaheim earned one of its biggest wins of the season in the first meeting between the clubs, a 5-1 triumph in January at Honda Center. Derek Grant scored twice and the Ducks went 7-for-7 on the penalty kill with assistant coach Mike Stothers filling in for Eakins behind the bench.
