Projected Lineup (subject to change)
Forwards
Brandon Hagel - Brayden Point - Nikita Kucherov
Anthony Cirelli - Steven Stamkos - Alex Killorn
Ross Colton - Nick Paul - Pat Maroon
Vladislav Namestnikov - Pierre-Edouard Bellemare - Corey Perry
Defensemen
Victor Hedman - Zach Bogosian
Mikhail Sergachev - Nick Perbix
Ian Cole - Erik Cernak
Goaltenders
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Brian Elliott
Saturday's Matchup
The Lightning and the Coyotes are playing the first of two matchups this season and the only meeting at AMALIE Arena…The Bolts posted a 2-0-0 record vs. ARI last season…Steven Stamkos (3-1-4) led Tampa Bay in goals vs. ARI last season and was tied with Alex Killorn (2-2-4) for the team lead in points…Brian Elliott and Andrei Vasilevskiy each earned one win vs. ARI last season...The Lightning are 6-3-1 in their last 10 home games vs. ARI and 5-5-0 in the last 10 meetings overall…The Bolts have scored two or more goals in 13 of the last 15 matchups vs. ARI and have scored three or more in 11 of those contests…Tampa Bay has outshot ARI in seven of the last 10 games…The Lightning have allowed just one power-play goal on 23 opportunities for ARI over the last 10 meetings at AMALIE Arena (95.7 PK%)…Stamkos has recorded points in five consecutive games vs. ARI (4-4-8) and 13 of his last 15 contests against the Coyotes (9-8-17)…Killorn has picked up points in five straight games vs. ARI (3-4-7)…Nikita Kucherov has pointed in four of his five career home games vs. ARI (7-1-8)…Brayden Point has collected points in four straight games vs. ARI (2-2-4)…Victor Hedman has recorded points in seven of his last 10 contests vs. ARI (2-5-7)…Elliott is 11-3-1 in 15 career starts and 18 appearances vs. ARI with two shutouts, a .913 save percentage and 2.21 goals against average…Tampa Bay is 25-19-1 all-time vs. ARI, including a home record of 12-8-1…Vincent Lecavalier (9-12-21) holds the Lightning franchise record for career points vs. ARI.
Saturday's Storylines
Tampa Bay is playing the third and final game of a three-game homestand tonight…The Bolts will play nine of their 13 games in December on home ice…The Lightning are 4-0-0 against Central Division opponents this season…Tampa Bay is 14-4-1 at home this season and have won six straight games at AMALIE Arena…The Bolts have won seven of eight home games in December.
Injuries
2022-23 Regular Season Man Games Lost: 79
Current Injuries:
Rudolfs Balcers (Upper-body injury; Out indefinitely) 14 Games
Tampa Bay Sports Item of the Game
Happy New Year Puck
Celebrate 2023 with this Limited Edition Happy New Year Puck in store and online at TampaBaySports.com while supplies last.
The Road Ahead
Saturday, December 31 vs. Arizona Coyotes
Tuesday, January 3 at Chicago Blackhawks
Wednesday, January 4 at Minnesota Wild
