The Lightning have the best record in the NHL and are outscoring opponents 30-17 during their streak. Forward Nikita Kucherov is third in the NHL with 44 points (12 goals, 32 assists) behind Colorado Avalanche forwards Mikko Rantanen (48) and Nathan MacKinnon (45). Goalie Louis Domingue will start for Tampa Bay. The Rangers are 2-4-1 in their past seven games and have allowed at least four goals in five of them. They're 5-3-0 against the Lightning since the 2015-16 season. Goalie Henrik Lundqvist likely will make his 23rd start of the season for New York.
Players to watch
Rangers center Mika Zibanejad has five points (one goal, four assists) during a three-game point streak. Lightning center Brayden Point has 20 points (12 goals, eight assists) in his past 13 games.
They said it
"[The Lightning] forwards can all shoot the puck and move the puck well side to side. You can't be locked in on one or two guys. You have to be aware of all five guys out there." -- Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist "I think [the Rangers] surprised the League a little bit by how well they've done this season. Maybe they didn't have the highest expectations coming into this season, but they've played really well. It's not going to be an easy night." -- Lightning captain Steven Stamkos
The Rangers had an optional morning skate. ... Vasilevskiy participated in his second straight practice. He was expected to need 4-6 weeks to recover from his injury, sustained during practice Nov. 14.
Stat pack
Lundqvist is 2-1-1 with a 2.88 GAA and .913 save percentage in his past four starts. … Stamkos has nine points (five goals, four assists) in his past six games. ... Domingue is 3-0-0 with a 1.33 goals-against average and .957 save percentage in his past three games. He was named NHL Second Star for the week ending Dec. 9.
