Canucks at Lightning preview

This will be the second game in NHL history featuring two teams with active winning streaks of at least seven games; the first was when the Columbus Blue Jackets, on a 14-game winning streak, defeated the Minnesota Wild, who had won 12 straight, 4-2 on Dec. 31, 2016. 

The Canucks, who have outscored opponents 30-17 during their run, can match the second-longest winning streak in their history; they won eight straight from Dec. 23, 2010-Jan. 7, 2011. The Vancouver record is 10 consecutive wins from Nov. 9-30, 2002.

J.T. Miller will play his first game against the Lightning since Vancouver acquired the forward in a trade on June 22. He is second on the Canucks with 40 points (15 goals, 25 assists) in 42 games. 

Tampa Bay has outscored opponents 29-15 during its streak. The seven wins in a row is a season high for the Lightning, who can win eight straight for the first time since their club record 10 wins in a row from Feb. 9-27, 2019.

Players to watch

Canucks goalie Jacob Markstrom is 6-0-0 with a 2.49 goals-against-average and .932 save percentage in his past six starts.

Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy is 5-0-0 with 2.20 GAA and .935 save percentage in his past five starts. 

They said it

"Puck management is the key. Those guys can make you pay. … We have to make sure that we manage the puck and take care of the puck and play to our structure and play to our strengths." -- Canucks center Jay Beagle

"Lot of different elements on [Vancouver's top line]. … J.T. [Miller] has a big body, he can fly around the ice. He's tough to play against. [Forward Brock] Boeser has a great shot. [Center] Elias [Pettersson] is a great hockey player. Three guys we have to keep in check." -- Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman

Canucks projected lineup

J.T. Miller -- Elias Pettersson -- Brock Boeser

Tanner Pearson -- Bo Horvat -- Loui Eriksson

Antoine Roussel -- Adam Gaudette -- Jake Virtanen

Tyler Motte -- Jay Beagle -- Tim Schaller

Quinn Hughes -- Christopher Tanev

Alexander Edler -- Troy Stecher

Oscar Fantenberg -- Tyler Myers

Jacob Markstrom

Thatcher Demko

Scratched: Jordie Benn, Zack MacEwen

Injured: Josh Leivo (fractured kneecap), Brandon Sutter (upper body), Micheal Ferland (upper body), Tyler Graovac (lower body)

Lightning projected lineup

Steven Stamkos -- Brayden Point -- Nikita Kucherov

Ondrej Palat -- Anthony Cirelli -- Tyler Johnson

Pat Maroon -- Cedric Paquette -- Alex Killorn

Carter Verhaeghe -- Mitchell Stephens -- Yanni Gourde

Victor Hedman -- Jan Rutta

Braydon Coburn -- Erik Cernak

Kevin Shattenkirk -- Mikhail Sergachev

Andrei Vasilevskiy

Curtis McElhinney

Scratched: Luke Schenn

Injured: Ryan McDonagh (upper body)

Status report

McDonagh is doubtful for the next two games, but Lightning coach Jon Cooper said he's hopeful the defenseman can return after that.

Stat pack

Horvat has seven points (two goals, five assists) in a three-game point streak. … Stamkos has 18 points (10 goals, eight assists) in 13 games against Vancouver.