PROJECTED LINES
Lines are from Tuesday's game against Boston, and are subject to change. Thursday's Morning Skate was optional.
Forwards
Ondrej Palat - Vladislav Namestnikov - Nikita Kucherov
Brian Boyle - Valtteri Filppula - Jonathan Drouin
Alex Killorn - Tyler Johnson - Brayden Point
Gabriel Dumont - Cedric Paquette - JT Brown
Defensemen
Victor Hedman - Jake Dotchin
Braydon Coburn - Anton Stralman
Jason Garrison - Andrej Sustr
Goaltender
Andrei Vasilevskiy projected to start
THURSDAY'S MATCHUP
The Lightning and the Senators are playing their second of four meetings this season and first of two at AMALIE Arena...The Bolts won the first matchup on Oct. 22, scoring a 4-1 victory in Ottawa...The Lightning scored two power-play goals, including Steven Stakmos' game-winner at 6:45 of the second period...Valtteri Filppula and Vladislav Namestnikov each finished with a goal and an assist for two-point nights...Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 27-of-28 shots in his second start of the season...The Lightning haven't lost in regulation to Ottawa at home since a 7-3 defeat March 6, 2012, going 7-0-2 against the Senators that loss...The Bolts have won three in a row over Ottawa at home and are 21-20-3 with two ties all-time at home versus the Senators...Tampa Bay is 7-1-3 in its last 11 games versus Ottawa and is 36-45-8 with two ties all-time against the Senators.
LIGHTNING-SENATORS STORYLINES
The Lightning are playing the second game of a four-game home stand...The Bolts have lost two-straight games at home and four of their last five...Tampa Bay is hoping to avoid its first three-game losing skid at home since dropping three straight Oct. 29 - Nov. 10, 2015 (2-1 loss vs. COL Oct. 29; 3-1 loss vs. BOS Oct. 31; 4-1 loss vs. BUF Nov. 10).
INJURIES
2016-17 Regular Season Man Games Lost: 158
Michael Bournival - Upper-body injury (DAY-TO-DAY; INJURED JAN. 26) 2 Games
Ryan Callahan - Lower-body injury (INJURED JAN. 7; ANNOUNCED JAN. 15 EXPECTED TO MISS APPROXIMATELY 4 WEEKS) 10 Games
Steven Stamkos - Lateral meniscus tear in right knee (OUT APPROXIMATELY 4 MONTHS; INJURED NOV. 15) 34 Games
TRANSACTIONS
Jan. 30 - Recalled D Jake Dotchin from AHL Syracuse
Jan. 28 - Re-assigned D Jake Dotchin to AHL Syracuse
Jan. 27 - Re-assigned F Erik Condra to AHL Syracuse
Jan. 26 - Acquired D Jonathan Racine and a 2017 6th round draft pick from Montreal in exchange for D Nikita Nesterov
Jan. 22 - Re-assigned F Joel Vermin to AHL Syracuse
HED OF THE CLASS
Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman ended a season-long four-game scoreless stretch after tallying three assists Jan. 31 vs.BOS...Hedman matched a career high for assists in a game against the Bruins, a feat he's achieved eight times previously and twice this season (also: Dec. 14 at CGY and Dec. 22 vs. STL)...Hedman paces all NHL defensemen for assists (34) and ranks tied for third overall in the league...Hedman ranks tied for second among all NHL defensemen for scoring and tied for 26th overall in the league.
NHL DEFENSEMAN SCORING LEADERS
1. Brent Burns (SJS) 21-32--53
T-2. Victor Hedman (TBL) 7-34--41
T-2. Erik Karlsson (OTT) 8-33--41
Since Dec. 1, Hedman has more power-play assists (12) than any other player in the league...Hedman ranks tied for third in the league for power-play assists for the season (16)...Since Dec. 1, Hedman ranks tied for second in the league for power-play points (0-12--12)...Hedman's 38 points before the All-Star/Olympic break rank tied for fourth all-time by a Lightning defenseman.
