Projected Lineup (subject to change)
Forwards
Steven Stamkos - Brayden Point - Nikita Kucherov
Alex Killorn - Anthony Cirelli - Ondrej Palat
Brandon Hagel - Nick Paul - Ross Colton
Pat Maroon - Pierre-Edouard Bellemare - Corey Perry
Defensemen
Victor Hedman - Jan Rutta
Mikhail Sergachev - Erik Cernak
Zach Bogosian - Cal Foote
Goaltenders
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Brian Elliott
Wednesday's Matchup
The Lightning and the Capitals are playing their third of three meetings this season and the second of two at Capital One Arena...Tampa Bay has won both previous meetings against Washington this season and is attempting to complete a regular season sweep of the Caps for the first time in franchise history...The Lightning defeated the Capitals 3-2 in the last meeting Nov. 1 at AMALIE Arena, the Bolts scoring three-straight goals over the second and third periods after falling behind 1-0 to end the Caps' season-opening eight-game point streak...Tampa Bay earned a 2-1 overtime victory its last trip to D.C. the third game of the season Oct. 16, the Lightning rallying from a 1-0 deficit with Mikhail Sergachev's tying goal 4:23 into the third period and Steven Stamkos netting the OT winner with 15 seconds remaining in the extra session... In that win, Nikita Kucherov left in the third period and did not return, the Russian winger missing the next 32 games with a lower-body injury... The Lightning have won three of their last five regular season contests in D.C...Andrei Vasilevskiy has started both games for the Bolts this season vs. Washington, allowing three goals on 66 shots in the two victories combined.
Wednesday's Storylines
The Lightning are playing their first of five road games in the month of April...Tampa Bay comes into tonight's contest having won two-straight road contests...The Lightning have 22 road wins this season, tied for first in the NHL with Boston, Pittsburgh and the NY Rangers...Tampa Bay's magic number to clinch a playoff berth for the fifth-consecutive season and 14th time overall in franchise history is nine, whereby any combination of Lightning points gained and NY Islanders points lost will decrease that magic number...Tampa Bay has allowed just one power-play goal over the last seven contests, going 21-of-22 on the penalty kill (95.5%), second only to Washington (10-for-10, 100%) for penalty kill success over that stretch starting March 24.
Injuries
2021-22 Reg. Season Man Games Lost: 177
Current injuries
Ryan McDonagh (Upper-body injury March 24; Out indefinitely) 6 Games
Tampa Bay Sports Item of the Game
Life Is Good Collection
Check out the two new styles of the Lightning Life Is Good t-shirt collection. Now available, along with previously sold out styles, at TampaBaySports.com and AMALIE Arena while supplies last.
The Road Ahead
Friday, April 8 vs. Boston Bruins
Sunday, April 10 vs. Buffalo Sabres
Tuesday, April 12 at Dallas Stars
