Tampa Bay Lightning Hope To Start Off 2017 On The Right Skate

The Tampa Bay Lightning take on the Winnipeg Jets in their first game of 2017 tonight from the Amalie Arena.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have had more than their fair share of trials and tribulations in 2016. Thankfully, as the ball prepared to drop and 2016 was drawing to a close, the Lightning finished off their dreadful year with a 3-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.

Now, the Lightning have an opportunity to put all the negativity behind them and start off 2017 on a much better skate. Tonight, the Tampa Bay Lightning charge back into the Amalie Arena to take on captain Blake Wheeler and the Winnipeg Jets in their first game of the year.

Judging by the looks of things, the Tampa Bay Lightning are coming into this matchup with a bit of an upper hand. The Winnipeg Jets are coming into tonight’s matchup on a two-game losing streak, having dropped a 5-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night and a 6-2 loss to the New York Islanders on Saturday.

Tampa Bay Lightning /

Tampa Bay Lightning

On the other hand, as the Lightning experienced many times this season, coming into a new year with a record like the one the Jets currently have only makes a team hungrier for a win. This means the Lightning will have to bring their ‘A’ game if they want to emerge victoriously tonight.

Unfortunately, everything isn’t quite sunshine and rainbows here in the Bolts Nation just yet. The Lightning are still facing down some very serious issues, most of which stem from the insane amount of injuries they have been forced to deal with this season.

On the bright side, the Lightning seem to be clicking as of late and have found a way to work together, getting back to basics, and coming up big when it really counts. If the Bolts can continue to play like they did on New Year’s Eve against the Hurricanes, they will find themselves with a good start to 2017.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning have a lot going on right now. In light of the recent injury to Lightning forward Brian Boyle, who was forced to leave the game on New Year’s Eve against the New York Islanders in the second period after sustaining a lower-body injury, the Bolts have recalled Adam Erne from the Syracuse Crunch.

According to Tampa Bay Lightning Beat Writer Bryan Burns, Lightning Head Coach Jon Cooper has said Erne will get his big chance and make his National Hockey League debut tonight against the Jets.

The Bolts also received some good news this afternoon. According to Burns, Tampa Bay Lightning alternate captain Ryan Callahan is probable to return tonight.

Winnipeg Jets

It’s pretty safe to say the Winnipeg Jets have not be having the season neither they nor their fans hoped for when the season kicked off. Right now, the Jets are 17-19-3 this season and are currently in 12^th place in the Western Conference.

As was mentioned previously, the Winnipeg Jets are cruising into the Sunshine State on a two-game losing streak. Of course, this means tonight’s game is that much more important for the Jets.

Leading the way for the Jets is rookie forward Patrik Laine. Laine leads the team in goals with 19. Add in the 12 assists he’s earned so far this season and Laine has brought home a total of 31 points. These numbers also place the 18-year-old rookie in second place on the team in overall points.

Jets center Mark Scheifele is the player leading the way for the team in overall points. In the 36 games he’s played in this season, Scheifele has brought home 15 goals and 18 assists for a total of 33 points.

Conclusion

No matter how you slice it, the Tampa Bay Lightning are going to need to hold strong and continue to play the way they did on New Year’s Eve against the Carolina Hurricanes if they want to be successful tonight against the Winnipeg Jets and keep their momentum moving forward as the continue their home stand.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are quickly approaching the halfway point in the season and if they want to continue playing after the first week in April, they are going to have to make their move and fight for position in the Atlantic Division.

Right now, the Lightning are two points behind the Boston Bruins and the Ottawa Senators in the Atlantic Division. A solid win streak could put the Bolts in a position to make a charge for the Division-leading Montreal Canadiens.

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As the old saying goes, the greatest journeys in the world begin with a single step. Tonight, as the Lightning take the ice against the Jets, they will take that aforementioned first step. Let’s hope it’s a positive one.