Nuts and Bolts: Lightning look for another strong performance vs. Avs

The Lightning host the Avalanche in the second of two regular season meetings between the clubs.
Tampa Bay won the first matchup 1-0 at the Pepsi Center in October. Nikita Kucherov scored the lone goal of the game early in the third period, while Andrei Vasilevskiy made 22 saves to record his only shutout of the season so far.

Lines from Thursday's game. Subject to change.
Forwards
Ondrej Palat - Steven Stamkos - Yanni Gourde
Tyler Johnson - Brayden Point - Nikita Kucherov
Alex Killorn - Anthony Cirelli - J.T. Miller
Mathieu Joseph - Cedric Paquette - Ryan Callahan
Defensemen
Victor Hedman - Dan Girardi
Ryan McDonagh - Erik Cernak
Braydon Coburn
Goaltenders
Louis Domingue - Edward Pasquale
Saturday's Matchup
The Lightning and the Avalanche are playing their second of two meetings this season and the only meeting at AMALIE Arena...Tampa Bay shut out Colorado 1-0 in the previous meeting Oct. 24 in Denver, Nikita Kucherov scoring the game's only goal on a power play at 6:24 of the third period and Andrei Vasilevskiy making all 22 saves for his only shutout of the season so far and 13th of his career...The Lightning have won four in a row over the Avalanche, three of those four wins coming in Denver...The Bolts are 4-2-0 at home against the Avalanche since the start of the 2010-11 season... Nikita Kucherov has recorded points in two-straight games vs. COL (2-1--3)... Alex Killorn (1-2--3) and Brayden Point (2-1--3) have each recorded points in three of their last four games vs. COL... Yanni Gourde has points in two of his three career games vs. COL (1-3--4).
Saturday's Storylines
Tampa Bay's five-game win streak is tied with Anaheim for the longest active win streak in the NHL...The Lightning have won eight of their last nine games...The Bolts have yet to lose in December, going 4-0-0 in the month so far...Tampa Bay continues to top the NHL standings, opening up a four-point gap over second place Toronto following Thursday's win...The Bolts' 45 points through 30 games are their second-most points through the first 30 games of a season all-time in franchise history (most: 46 points through 30 games in 2017-18)...The Lightning own the best goal differential (+30) in the NHL (2nd: TOR +28)...The Bolts lead the league for goals (115) and goals per game at 3.83 (COL is 2nd in both categories)...Since the start of the 2017-18 season, no NHL team has scored more goals than the Lightning with 405 (2nd: TOR - 376)...Tampa Bay has scored four or more goals 19 times this season and is 17-1-1 when scoring four or more goals, winning nine straight.
Injuries
2018-19 Man Games Lost: 56
Current injuries
Anton Stralman (Upper Body; Will be re-evaluated Dec. 12) 14 Games
Andrei Vasilevskiy (Left Foot Fracture; Out 4-6 Weeks) 12 Games
They Said It

Parking Info
As our partners at Water Street Tampa continue to develop the 60 contiguous acres in the neighborhood surrounding AMALIE Arena, we ask for your patience and consideration when planning your visit to cheer on the Lightning or enjoy a concert, event or family show. We are pleased to report that the development project is well underway with a hotel and USF Health's Morsani College of Medicine in the midst of construction while we expect to see groundbreakings on several other projects during the 2018-19 season. Roadways are being realigned, traffic patterns are changing and new transportation options are emerging - all with a vision of creating a more user-friendly environment in the blocks surrounding AMALIE Arena.
As you plan your trip downtown, we aim to keep you informed of these new developments, offering you all you need to know about arriving at AMALIE safe and on time for your game or event.
Visit
TampaBayLightning.com/parking
for more information.
Holiday Toy Drive on the Plaza
The Tampa Bay Lightning is partnering with the United States Marine Corps Reserve and PODS® Moving & Storage to host two drives at AMALIE Arena for the Toys for Tots Program on Ford Thunder Alley prior to Bolts home games on Saturday, December 8 versus the Colorado Avalanche and on Monday, December 10 against the New York Rangers. This collection will give fans the opportunity to share in the season of giving with the Lightning and bring joy to children in need.
Along with members of the United States Marine Corps Reserve and the Bolts Better Halves, the Lightning will be accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys on Ford Thunder Alley beginning two hours before puck-drop through game time prior to both games. In addition to donation boxes, toys will be collected and stored in an on-site PODS container. PODS is the official moving and storage provider of the Lightning, and has been a national sponsor of the Toys for Tots Program for the last nine years. Fans who donate will be entered for the chance to win the opportunity to watch a Bolts morning skate. The Lightning encourage fans to bring one or more new, unwrapped toys and be entered to win a chance to attend a morning skate.
Tampa Bay Sports Item of the Game
Free Star Wars poster with $50 purchase
It's Star Wars Night at AMALIE Arena. Get a free limited edition Lightning Star Wars poster with every purchase over $50 in arena while supplies last and online until midnight at TampaBaySports.com.
The Road Ahead
Monday, Dec. 10 vs. New York Rangers
Thursday, Dec. 13 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
Sunday, Dec. 16 at Winnipeg Jets