LIGHTNING (40-15-5) at GOLDEN KNIGHTS (31-22-8) 10 p.m. ET; ESPN+, ATTSN-RM, SUN, SN, NHL.TV
The Lightning, who are 23-2-1 in their past 26 games, and can tie a team record with their seventh consecutive road win, trail the Boston Bruins by three points for first place in the Atlantic Division. Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy will start for Tampa Bay and try to extend his 21-game point streak. He is 19-0-2 with a 1.98 goals-against average of 1.98 and .934 save percentage in his past 21 starts. Defenseman Alec Martinez will make his Golden Knights debut after he was acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday for a second-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, and a second-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. Vegas, which seeks its fourth straight win, is 6-2-1 in its past nine games and can move into first place in the Pacific Division with a victory.
Players to watch
Lightning forward Blake Coleman will play for the first time since he was acquired in a trade with the New Jersey Devils on Sunday for a first-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft and forward prospect Nolan Foote. Coleman has 31 points (21 goals, 10 assists) in 57 games this season. Golden Knights forward Max Pacioretty has eight points (six goals, two assists) in his past six games.
They said it
"They'll probably throw a lot at me. At the end of the day, you just go play your game and pick the stuff up over time." -- Lightning forward Blake Coleman "It's been a crazy, 24, 48 hours. I had a good idea the past couple of months something might happen. Obviously mixed emotions. … It was tough to say goodbye, but if I had a spot to pick, it'd definitely be here." -- Golden Knights defenseman Alec Martinez
Point, a forward, will not play. … Coleman is expected to be the third-line left wing. … Martinez will be on the third pairing with Merrill. … Roy was recalled from Chicago of the American Hockey League on Wednesday.
Stat pack
Vasilevskiy is six games from tying the NHL record for point streak by a goalie (Pete Peeters, 22-0-5 in 1979-80). … Kucherov has 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) in a personal 14-game point streak. … Marchessault has four points (two goals, two assists) in a three-game point streak. … The Lightning won seven straight road games from Jan. 7 - Feb. 1, 2007.
