Nuts & Bolts: Lightning go for eleven in a row on Sunday vs. New Jersey
Tampa Bay can set a new franchise record for consecutive victories with a win on Sunday against the Devils
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Lines from Saturday's game. Subject to change.
Forwards
Steven Stamkos - Brayden Point - Nikita Kucherov
Alex Killorn - Anthony Cirelli - Tyler Johnson
Pat Maroon - Cedric Paquette - Alexander Volkov
Carter Verhaeghe - Mitchell Stephens - Yanni Gourde
Defensemen
Victor Hedman - Jan Rutta
Braydon Coburn - Erik Cernak
Mikhail Sergachev - Kevin Shattenkirk
Goaltenders
Curtis McElhinney expected to start
Sunday's Matchup
The Lightning and the Devils are playing their second of three meetings this season (also: March 15 vs. NJD) and the second of two meetings at Prudential Center...Tampa Bay claimed victory in the first meeting 7-6 in overtime Oct. 30 in New Jersey, Tyler Johnson netting the game-winner 1:16 into OT to end a three-game losing skid for the Bolts in New Jersey...From that win, the Lightning overcame a 5-3 deficit by scoring three-straight goals in the third period before Kyle Palmieri forced OT by tying the game with eight seconds left; also, Ondrej Palat (2 goals, assist), Tyler Johnson (goal, 2 assists) and Brayden Point (goal, 2 assists) all registered three-point nights...Tampa Bay has won four in a row overall over New Jersey and has scored at least five goals in all four wins... Brayden Point has registered at least three points in four-straight games vs. NJD (5-9--14), including a career-best five-point game Oct. 30, 2018 vs. NJD, and has points in six-straight reg. season games vs. NJD (6-10--16); Point has more career reg. season assists (12) and points (19) vs. NJD than he does against any other NHL team...Tyler Johnson is on a four-game reg. season goal streak against NJD (4-3--7) and has three career game-winning goals vs. NJD, tied with MTL for the most in his career against any one team... Pat Maroon has an assist in two-straight games against his former team after departing New Jersey via free agency following the 2017-18 season (missed TBL's Oct. 30 matchup at NJD due to an upper-body injury)...Ondrej Palat is on a four-game reg. season point streak vs. NJD (4-2--6)...Jan Rutta has points in all three career meetings vs. NJD and has more career assists (4) and points (5) vs. NJD than he does against any other NHL team...Curtis McElhinney recorded his first career victory with TBL Oct. 30 at NJD.
Sunday's Storylines
The Lightning are aiming for their 11th-consecutive win tonight, which would set a new franchise mark for most consecutive wins in team history (previous long: 10-straight wins Feb. 9-27, 2019)...Tampa Bay's 10-game win streak is tied for the longest in the NHL this season (also: 10-straight wins by NYI Oct. 12-Nov. 5)...Tampa Bay is the fourth team in NHL history to record a double-digit win streak in two-straight seasons, joining Columbus (2016-17 & 2017-18), Pittsburgh (2010-11, 2011-12 & 2012-13) and Philadelphia (1984-85 & 1985-86)...The Lightning have won five in a row on the road and are 8-1-1 in their last 10 road games...The Bolts' five-game road win streak is tied for the longest active road win streak in the NHL (also: Toronto) and tied for the second-longest road win streak this season in the NHL...Tampa Bay can match the longest road win streak in the NHL this season (6-straight road wins by NYI Oct. 17Nov. 19) with a win tonight...The Lightning are completing their eighth of 15 back-to-back sets this season...The Bolts have swept their last two back-to-backs and three total this season...The Lightning are 5-1-1 in the second half of a back-to-back...Tampa Bay has gone 145:55 without allowing a goal and can set a franchise record for longest shutout streak tonight (current best: 184:06 from Feb. 12-18, 2019)...The Lightning have scored 12-consecutive goals dating to their 9-2 win vs. VAN on Tuesday and need two more consecutive goals to match the franchise record for consecutive goals (14) set last season over three games from Feb. 14-18.
Injuries
2019-20 Man Games Lost: 49
Current injuries:
Ryan McDonagh (Upper-Body Injury; Out Indefinitely) 4 Games
Ondrej Palat (Lower-Body Injury; Day-to-Day) 1 Game
Tampa Bay Sports Item of the Game
Lightning Winter Knits
Gear up for the next cold front with a new Lightning Winter Knit, available in store and online at TampaBaySports.com.
The Road Ahead
Tuesday, January 14 vs. Los Angeles Kings
Thursday, January 16 at Minnesota Wild
Monday, January 27 at Dallas Stars
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