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
Ian Cole - Erik Cernak
Mikhail Sergachev - Nick Perbix
Goaltenders
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Brian Elliott
Thursday's Matchup
The Lightning and the Canucks 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. VAN last season…Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (0-2-2), Ross Colton (1-1-2), Victor Hedman (1-1-2) and Nikita Kucherov (0-2-2) were tied for the team lead in scoring with two points apiece vs. VAN last season…Andrei Vasilevskiy started both games vs. VAN last season, making a combined 59 saves on 62 shots against for a .952 save percentage with a 1.50 goals against average…Tampa Bay has won four straight games vs. VAN and are 11-4-0 in the last 15 matchups…The Lightning are 6-3-1 in their last 10 home games vs. VAN…The Bolts have held VAN to two or less goals in six of the last seven matchups…Tampa Bay's penalty kill has gone 35-for-38 over the last 10 home games vs. VAN (92.1%)…Steven Stamkos has posted points in seven of his nine career home games vs. VAN (6-7-13)…Kucherov has recorded a multi-point game in six of his last nine games vs. VAN (4-8-12)…Brayden Point has seven points over his last five games vs. VAN (3-4-7)…Hedman has points in four straight games vs. VAN (1-3-4) and seven of the last eight meetings (4-5-9)…Vasilevskiy has won six of his last seven starts vs. VAN, including wins in four straight…Tampa Bay is 17-17-3 with two ties all-time vs. VAN, including a home record of 10-8-2…Stamkos (12-10-22) holds the Lightning franchise records for career goals and points vs. VAN.
Thursday's Storylines
Tampa Bay is playing the second and final game of a brief, two-game homestand tonight…The Bolts will play just five of their 13 games in January on home ice…The Lightning are 4-2-0 against Pacific Division opponents this season…Tampa Bay is 16-4-1 at home this season…The Bolts and Canucks will meet again in less than a week with a Jan. 18 matchup at VAN.
Injuries
2022-23 Regular Season Man Games Lost: 85
Current Injuries:
Rudolfs Balcers (Upper-body injury; Day-to-day) 19 Games
Tampa Bay Sports Item of the Game
Gasparilla Collection Hats
Check out the new collection of Gasparilla-inspired Lightning merchandise, including hats and knits from New Eara. They are available in store and online at TampaBaySports.com, while supplies last.
The Road Ahead
Saturday, January 14 at St. Louis Blues
Monday, January 16 at Seattle Kraken
Wednesday, January 18 at Vancouver Canucks
