Projected Lineup (subject to change)
Forwards
Ondrej Palat - Steven Stamkos - Ross Colton
Alex Killorn - Brayden Point - Mathieu Joseph
Pat Maroon - Pierre-Edouard Bellemare - Corey Perry
Boris Katchouk - Riley Nash - Remi Elie
Defensemen
Victor Hedman - Jan Rutta
Ryan McDonagh - Zach Bogosian
Sean Day - Darren Raddysh
Goaltenders
Maxime Lagace
Hugo Alnefelt
Friday's Matchup
The Lightning and the Rangers are playing their first of three meetings this season and the first of two at AMALIE Arena...Tampa Bay and New York will play each other twice in a three-day span, the Lightning traveling to New York to take on the Rangers Jan. 2 at Madison Square Garden...The Lightning and Rangers are playing for the first time since Nov. 14, 2019, a 9-3 win for the Bolts at AMALIE Arena that saw Alex Killorn score a pair of power-play goals and Tampa Bay match its franchise record for most goals scored in a game...Tampa Bay has won three in a row at home over the Rangers and has points in five-straight home games against the Rangers (3-0-2)...The Lightning are 7-1-2 in their last 10 games overall vs. New York...Tampa Bay is aiming for its 50th win in franchise history over the Rangers, the Bolts owning a 49-43-6 mark with 5 ties all-time vs. New York (.529 point percentage)... Steven Stamkos (5-5--10 pts.) and Brayden Point (2-5--7 pts.) each are on five-game point streaks vs. New York.
Friday's Storylines
The Lightning are concluding their fourth of 12 back-to-back sets this season...The Bolts have yet to lose in the second half of a back-to-back in 2021- 22, going 3-0-0 and outscoring their opponents a combined 16-6...Tampa Bay enters tonight's contest on a seven-game home win streak, the second- longest active home win streak in the NHL (longest: COL - 8-straight home wins) and tied for the fifth longest in the NHL this season (longest: FLA - 11- straight home wins Oct. 14-Nov. 24)...Tampa Bay is 73-31-7 in 2021, tied with 2013 Pittsburgh for the second-most wins in a calendar year (reg. season and playoffs) in NHL history; only 2013 Chicago (80) had more.
Injuries
2021-22 Reg. Season Man Games Lost: 118
Current injuries
Erik Cernak (Lower-body injury Dec. 4; Week-to-week) 9 Games
Nikita Kucherov (Lower-body injury; Underwent successful procedure Oct. 26; Out 8-10 weeks) 29 Games
Gemel Smith (Lower-body injury Sept. 28; Out indefinitely) 32 Games
Tampa Bay Sports Item of the Game
Lightning Limited Edition New Year's Tee
Say goodbye to 2021 and hello to 2022 with this Limited Edition New Year's Tee. Available while supplies last in store at AMALIE Arena and online at TampaBaySports.com.
Play It Safe
The well-being of our guests and staff is our top priority. As we return to play, we will be implementing new health and safety protocols based on current public health recommendations, including those set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local agencies, which are evolving as new information is available.
Click here
for more details.
The Road Ahead
Sunday, January 2 at New York Rangers
Tuesday, January 4 at Columbus Blue Jackets
Thursday, January 6 vs. Calgary Flames
