PROJECTED LINES
Lines are from Tuesday night's game against Winnipeg, and subject to change. Following Thursday's morning skate, which was optional, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper confirmed that forward Cedric Paquette (lower-body injury) will return to the lineup against the Predators.
Forwards
Ondrej Palat - Tyler Johnson - Nikita Kucherov
Jonathan Drouin - Valtteri Filppula - Ryan Callahan
Alex Killorn - Vladislav Namestnikov - Adam Erne
Cedric Paquette - Matthew Peca - JT Brown
Defensemen
Victor Hedman - Anton Stralman
Jason Garrison - Andrej Sustr
Braydon Coburn - Braydon Coburn
Goalie
Andrei Vasilevskiy expected to start
THURSDAY'S MATCHUP
The Lightning and the Predators are playing their second of two meetings this season...Nashville won an earlier meeting this season between the two teams, scoring a 3-1 victory Nov. 21 at Bridgestone Arena, ending the Bolts' four-game road winning streak...The Predators scored three-straight goals before Tyler Johnson tallied with 50 seconds remaining to prevent the shutout...In the teams' last meeting at AMALIE Arena (Feb. 12, 2016), Tyler Johnson netted the game-winning goal in overtime in a 4-3 Bolts' win...The Lightning have split their last four home contests with Nashville and are 5-3-0 with two ties all-time at home vs. the Predators...The Bolts are 10- 8-2 with two ties all-time overall against the Preds.
LIGHTNING-PREDATORS STORYLINES
The Lightning cap a five-game home stand -- their longest of the season -- tonight and are 2-1-1 so far on the home stand...The Bolts are 1-4-0 against Central Division teams this season, their only victory coming Dec. 22 vs. St. Louis (5-2).
INJURIES
2016-17 Regular Season Man Games Lost: 103
Ben Bishop - Lower-body injury (OUT 3-4 WEEKS; INJURED DEC. 20) 6 Games
Brian Boyle - Lower-body injury (DAY-TO-DAY; INJURED DEC. 31) 1 Game
Brayden Point - Upper-body injury (OUT 4-6 WEEKS; INJURED DEC. 28) 3 Games
Steven Stamkos - Lateral meniscus tear in right knee (OUT APPROXIMATELY 4 MONTHS; INJURED NOV. 15) 22 Games
TRANSACTIONS
Jan. 4 - Recalled G Adam Wilcox; Reassigned G Kristers Gudlevskis and F Michael Bournival
Jan. 4 - Re-assigned F Yanni Gourde to AHL Syracuse
Jan. 1 - Recalled F Adam Erne from AHL Syracuse
Dec. 30 - Re-assigned F Erik Condra to AHL Syracuse
Dec. 29 - Recalled F Erik Condra from AHL Syracuse
Dec. 29 - Recalled F Yanni Gourde from AHL Syracuse
Dec. 27 - Recalled F Matthew Peca from AHL Syracuse
Dec. 26 - Re-assigned F Tanner Richard to AHL Syracuse
Dec. 26 - Re-assigned F Erik Condra to AHL Syracuse
Dec. 26 - Re-assigned F Cory Conacher to AHL Syracuse
POWER UP
The Lightning scored two power-play goals Jan. 3 vs. WPG, their second-consecutive game scoring two power-play goals...The Bolts have scored multiple power-play goals in a game 10 times this season, more than any other team in the NHL according to the Elias Sports Bureau...Tampa Bay has scored at least one power-play goal in nine of its last 11 games and 12 total over that stretch...The Bolts' power play ranks third in the NHL at 23.8%...The Lightning have scored more power-play goals (34) than any other team in the league.
