Nuts and Bolts: Lightning hit the road to face the Wild

After a 4-1-0 homestand to start the season, the Lightning hit the road for a game trip that begins with a matchup vs. the Wild at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
The Wild will be playing the second half of a back-to-back after facing the Stars in Dallas on Friday night. Following Saturday's game, the Bolts face a quick turnaround as they travel to face the Blackhawks on Sunday.

Lines from Thursday's game. Subject to change.
Forwards
Yanni Gourde - Brayden Point - Steven Stamkos
Ondrej Palat - Tyler Johnson - Nikita Kucherov
Alex Killorn - Anthony Cirelli - Mathieu Joseph
J.T. Miller - Cedric Paquette - Ryan Callahan
Defensemen
Victor Hedman - Dan Girardi
Ryan McDonagh - Anton Stralman
Braydon Coburn - Mikhail Sergachev
Goaltenders
Andrei Vasilevskiy or Louis Domingue
Saturday's Matchup
The Lightning and the Wild are playing their first of two meetings tonight and the only meeting at Xcel Energy Center (also: March 7 vs. MIN) ...The Lightning begin a season-long five-game road trip tonight...The Bolts are playing the opening game of their first of 11 back-to-
back sets this season...Tampa Bay was 7-5-1 in the first game of a back-to-back set in 2017-18...The Lightning split the two-game season series with Minnesota in 2017-18, blanking the Wild 3-0 (Dec. 23) at home behind a 22-save shutout from Andrei Vasilevskiy but falling 5-2 in Minnesota (Jan. 20) despite a pair of goals from Brayden Point...Tampa Bay has lost six straight in Minnesota, its last win coming April 2, 2011 in a 3-1 victory...The Lightning have just two wins all-time in Minnesota (2-9-1)...The Bolts have split the twogame season series with the Wild each of the last five seasons...Tyler Johnson has points in three-straight games vs. MIN (1-3--4)... Andrei Vasilevskiy has given up just eight goals total in five starts vs. MIN, going 3-1-1 with a 1.56 GAA, .950 save percentage and one shutout.
Saturday's Storylines
The Lightning established a franchise record for consecutive games to start a season without allowing an opponent power-play goal (5 games) after going 5-for-5 on the penalty kill Oct. 18 vs. DET...The Lightning penalty kill is a perfect 23-for-23 in 2018-19 and 32-of-33 over the last 10 games dating back to last season's playoffs...The Bolts are the only team in the NHL that hasn't given up an opponent power-play goal...Tampa Bay is giving up just two goals a game and ranks tied for second in the NHL for least amount of goals against per game.
Injuries
2018-19 Regular Season Man Games Lost: 5
Current injuries
None
They Said It

Watch Party at American Social
Join us at American Social on Harbour Island for the first official Lightning watch party of the new season. The party starts at 7 p.m. and will include Bud Light specials.
Tampa Bay Sports Item of the Game
Lightning Clutch Locker Room Tee
Check out the all new Authentic Pro Locker Room Collection, including this performance tee. Available in stores and online at TampaBaySports.com
The Road Ahead
Sunday, Oct. 21 at Chicago Blackhawks
Wednesday, Oct. 25 at Colorado Avalanche
Friday, Oct. 26 at Vegas Golden Knights