Lines from Thursday's game. Subject to change.
Forwards
Vladislav Namestnikov - Steven Stamkos - Nikita Kucherov
Ondrej Palat - Brayden Point - Tyler Johnson
Alex Killorn - Yanni Gourde - Cory Conacher
Chris Kunitz - Cedric Paquette
Defensemen
Victor Hedman - Jake Dotchin
Mikhail Sergachev - Dan Girardi
Braydon Coburn - Andrej Sustr
Slater Koekkoek
Goaltenders
Andrei Vasilevskiy expected to start
Sunday's Matchup
The Lightning and the Blue Jackets will conclude their three-game regular season series tonight and are playing the second of two games this season at Nationwide Arena...Tampa Bay won both prior matchups between the teams this season...The Bolts prevailed 5-4 in a shootout Nov. 4 at AMALIE Arena, Steven Stamkos the only player from either team to convert in the shootout... Andrei Vasilevskiy recorded his first shutout of the season and fifth of his career after stopping all 43 shots -- tied for the second-most regular season saves he's made in a single game -- in a 2-0 Lightning win at Nationwide Arena on Oct. 19...Lightning rookie defenseman Mikhail Sergachev scored his first two NHL goals in that 2-0 win and has recorded at least one point (2-1--3) in both career games vs. CBJ...Tampa Bay has won four of its last five games in Columbus, outscoring the Blue Jackets 15-5 in those five games... Ondrej Palat has points in three of his last four games vs. CBJ (2-3--5)... Steven Stamkos has recorded two goals and an assist in each of his last two games vs. CBJ (did not play vs. CBJ last season due to injury).
Sunday's Storylines
The Lightning are tied with New Jersey for the best road points percentage (.676) in the NHL and have won three of their last four road contests...Tampa Bay continues to pace the NHL for wins (27), points (56), ROW (25), points percentage (.757) and goal differential (+46)...Despite a loss on Friday, the Lightning are off to their best start in franchise history with 56 points through 37 games, seven points better than the 49 put up by the 2013-14 team (23-11-3) through 37 games...The Bolts lead the NHL for goals per game (3.70) and rank third for goals allowed per game (2.49) and are the only NHL team in the top five in both categories.
Injuries
2017-18 Regular Season Man Games Lost: 43
Current injuries
Ryan Callahan - Upper body (indefinite) 6 Games
Anton Stralman - Lower body (day-to-day) 2 Games
Transactions
Dec. 8 - Re-assigned D Jamie McBain to AHL Syracuse
Stammer Time
Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos scored a power-play goal Dec. 29 vs. PHI for his third goal in his last two games...Stamkos scored a power-play goal for a second-consecutive game on Friday...Stamkos paces the NHL for power-play goals and power-play scoring.
Stamkos has recorded a power-play point in 21 of 37 games this season...Stamkos ranks fourth in the NHL for scoring (16-32--48) and fifth for assists...Stamkos has recorded at least one point in 26 of 37 games this season.
Johnny on the Spot
Lightning forward Tyler Johnson scored his second shorthanded goal of the season and 10th goal overall Dec. 29 vs. PHI...Johnson owns more career shorthanded goals (7) than any other active Tampa Bay player and moved into a tie for fourth place all-time in franchise history for shorthanded goals...With his goal on Friday, Johnson (99 career goals) moved past Chris Gratton (98) and into ninth place among the Lightning's all-time goal scorers...Johnson extended his streak with at least one point in games he's played in to 11 (missed Dec. 19 at VGK with the flu) with his goal on Friday...Johnson has recorded 6-10--16 over his last 11 games, all in December, for the second-most points he's put up in a single month in his career (most: 17 points in Dec. 2014)...Johnson has points in 12 of his last 13 games (6-12--18).
