Projected lines. Subject to change.
Forwards
Vladislav Namestnikov - Steven Stamkos - Nikita Kucherov
Ondrej Palat - Brayden Point - Yanni Gourde
Alex Killorn - Tyler Johnson -
Chris Kunitz - Cedric Paquette - Ryan Callahan
Defense
Victor Hedman - Slater Koekkoek
Mikhail Sergachev - Anton Stralman
Braydon Coburn - Dan Girardi
Andrej Sustr -
Goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy or Peter Budaj expected to start
WEDNESDAY'S MATCHUP
The Lightning and the Bruins are playing their first of four matchups this season and the first of two at TD Garden...Tampa Bay and Boston played five times in 2016-17, the Lightning going 1-3-1...The Bolts' lone win over the Bruins came March 23 in Boston, Tampa Bay rallying from three separate one-goal deficits to win 6-3...The Lightning were paced in that win by Nikita Kucherov, who tallied the third hat trick of his career (two of Kucherov's goals came on the power play, the other was an empty netter), and Peter Budaj, who made 28-of-31 saves to win his second game in a Bolts sweater...Tampa Bay lost two other visits to Boston last season (Nov. 27 and April 4) by a combined 8-1...The Lightning are 3-2-0 in Boston over the last two seasons; prior to 2016-17, the Bolts had lost 10 straight
in Boston, going 0-9-1 over that stretch...Tampa Bay is 7-31-4 with six ties all-time in Boston...Anton Stralman has recorded 4-10--14 in 29 career regular season games vs. Boston, a career high for points against a single team.
WEDNESDAY'S STORYLINES
The Lightning reclaimed their spot as the top team in the NHL following Tuesday's win and lead the League for points (37), points percentage (.750), ROW (16) and goal differential (+26)...The Bolts are tied with STL for most wins in the NHL (17)...Tampa Bay is third in the NHL for goals per game (3.63) and fourth for goals against per game (2.54) and are the only NHL team in the top four in both categories...The Lightning are off to their best start in franchise history with 36 points through 24 games, two points better than the 34 put up by the 2014-15 team (16-6-2) through 24 games...The Bolts are playing the second half of a back-to-back set tonight, their fifth of 13 back-to-backs in 2017-18...Tampa Bay is 1-2-1 in the second game of a back-to-back set.
INJURIES
2017-18 Regular Season Man Games Lost: 22
Current injuries:
JT Brown - Undisclosed (DAY-TO-DAY) 3 Games
Jake Dotchin - Undisclosed (DAY-TO-DAY) 4 Games
TRANSACTIONS
Nov. 26 - Re-assigned F Cory Conacher to AHL Syracuse
Nov. 25 - Assigned F Chris DiDomenico to AHL Syracuse on a conditioning loan
Nov. 24 - Claimed F Chris DiDomenico off waivers from Ottawa
Nov. 24 - Recalled F Cory Conacher from AHL Syracuse
Nov. 22 - F Gabriel Dumont claimed off waivers by Ottawa
POWER SURGE
Tampa Bay scored a power-play goal Nov. 28 at BUF to extend its streak of games with a power-play goal to four...The Lightning have netted at least one power-play goal in nine of their last 10 games and 20 of 24 games overall this season...The Bolts currently rank second in the NHL for power-play goals with 25 (first: PIT- 26)...The Lightning lead the League for power-play percentage (26.9%)...Over the last two seasons, the Bolts lead the NHL for power-play goals.
ANDREI THE GIANT
Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped all 34 shots he faced Nov. 28 at BUF to record his second shutout of the season and sixth career shutout...Vasilevskiy moved into a tie for fifth place on the Bolts' all-time shutouts list, pulling even with Mike Smith and Kevin Weekes...Vasilvskiy paces the NHL for wins (16), ranks tied for second for save percentage (.933) and fourth for goals-against average (2.19)...Vasilevskiy has allowed two or fewer goals in six of his last seven starts and 13 of 20 starts overall this season...Since the trade that sent Ben Bishop to Los Angeles last season (2/26/17), Vasilevskiy is 28-7-3, the 28 wins ranking first in the NHL over that stretch
