Tampa Bay Lightning Headed Into Important Back-To-Back Series
The Tampa Bay Lightning kick of a back-to-back weekend series against the New York Islanders.
The Tampa Bay Lightning has found quite a bit of success lately. If the Lightning want to remain successful, they are going to have to remain vigilant and find the same sort of consistency they showed at this point last season. The journey into the final nine games of the season begins tonight as the Tampa Bay Lightning make their way into the Amalie Arena to kick off a back-to-back weekend series against the New York Islanders.
Tonight’s encounter will be the second of three meetings between these two teams this season. Their first encounter took place on Saturday, November 28th at the Amalie Arena here in the Sunshine State where the Islanders edged out the Lightning in a 3-2 victory. As you can imagine, the Tampa Bay Lightning will be looking for a much different outcome as they charge into the Amalie Arena.
This game is much more important to the Tampa Bay Lightning than some may imagine. At this particular point and time, the Tampa Bay Lightning are fighting tooth and nail with their in-state rivals, the Florida Panthers, for the first place position in the Atlantic Division. At the same time, the New York Islanders are fighting to maintain their position in the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
There are a couple of players the Tampa Bay Lightning should keep a close eye on when they take the ice later this evening. The first of those players is Islanders captain John Tavares. John Tavares currently leads the Islanders in goals and overall points. Tavares has scored 27 goals and 30 assists so far this season for a total of 57 points.
As some of you may remember, it was a power play goal from John Tavares late in the third period in the Lightning’s first encounter this season with the Islanders that put the final nail in the Bolts’ coffin. You can bet he’ll be looking for a repeat performance tonight in Tampa.
The second player the Tampa Bay Lightning should be on the lookout for is Islanders right wing Kyle Okposo. Okposo is currently in first place on the Islanders in assists and just one point away from Tavares for the first place on the team in overall points. So far this season, Okposo has brought home 20 goals and 36 assists for a total of 56 points.
On the other side of the ice, it’s Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos who is leading the way for the Lightning. Stamkos is the first place on the team in goals and tied with right wing Nikita Kucherov for the first place spot on the team in overall points. The young Lightning captain has scored 34 goals and 26 assists for a total of 60 points. Right now, Stamkos is 4th in the NHL in goals.
Right on the heels of Steven Stamkos is right wing Nikita Kucherov. So far this season, the young Lightning forward has brought home 28 goals and 32 assists for a total of 60 points, which as we mentioned before puts Kucherov tied for 1st place on the team in overall points with Steven Stamkos.
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Unfortunately, there is no word at this point as to whether Lightning alternate captain Ryan Callahan or center Valtteri Filppula will be available tonight against the Islanders. We are sure as the day progresses more information will be made available about their status. It would definitely be nice to get one or both of them back into the lineup tonight.
As we mentioned before, the Tampa Bay Lightning has a tough road in front of them over the course of the next week or two. One of the toughest parts of this journey begins tonight as the Lightning take on the Islanders. As soon as the team is finished with the Isles, they have to turn right back around and prepare to deal with the Florida Panthers in another must-win game on Saturday night.
Next: The Tampa Bay Lightning Need To Find Consistency
The Tampa Bay Lightning could have the keys to the castle, but they are going to have to remain steadfast and aggressive on the road to the Stanley Cup Playoffs if they want to make a repeat visit to the Stanley Cup Finals. Destiny is within their grasp, all the Tampa Bay Lightning needs to do is reach out and grab it.