BLUES (14-5-6) at LIGHTNING (12-7-2) 7 p.m. ET; SUN, FS-MW, NHL.TV
Lightning captain Steven Stamkos will miss his third straight game with a lower-body injury and defenseman Erik Cernak will miss the first of two games after being suspended for a hit on Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin in a 5-2 win on Monday. Tampa Bay, which has outscored opponents 15-6 in three consecutive wins, is 6-2-0 in its past eight games. The Blues are winless in two straight (0-1-1) and are 2-2-3 in their past seven games following a seven-game winning streak.
Players to watch
Blues forward David Perron has four points (three goals, one assist) in a four-game point streak. Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov has 10 points (four goals, six assists) in his past seven games.
They said it
"They're a high-powered offense. They are very dangerous when you give them time and space. We have to make sure that we play their forwards tight, especially in our defensive zone. We need to make it hard for them to carry the puck in our zone." -- Blues defenseman Colton Parayko "You see why they're the champs … They don't give you a lot and they play a pretty predictable game in the sense that all the guys can stay with the same game plan for 60 minutes and they can wear you down because they've got a big, physical group." -- Lightning coach Jon Cooper
Cooper said he's hopeful Stamkos can return at the Washington Capitals on Friday or against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. … The Lightning could go with 11 forwards and seven defensemen; if they do, Rutta would play in place of Conacher. … Parayko was with the second power-play unit during the morning skate.
Stat pack
Pietrangelo needs one goal for 100 in the NHL. … Thomas has five assists in his past four games. … Cirelli has eight points (four goals, four assists) in a five-game point streak. … Hedman has 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in his past eight games.
