Tampa Bay Lightning Has A Reputation To Uphold Tonight
The Tampa Bay Lightning need to get back on track this season and bring home a win against their divisional foes, the Montreal Canadiens.
The Tampa Bay Lightning has been known to have little issue in disposing of their Atlantic Division rivals, the Montreal Canadiens. If you need proof, all you have to do is look at last season’s results and bask in the series sweep the Lightning executed in the regular season or the conclusion to the 2nd Round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Unfortunately, this cannot be said for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2015-16 season.
So far this season, the Montreal Canadiens have found a way to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in both encounters these two teams have experienced this season. Tonight, the Tampa Bay Lightning has an opportunity to correct the course and potentially split the series with the Canadiens as the Lightning heads into the final six games of the season.
The good news is, the Tampa Bay Lightning is headed into this encounter – which is game number five of a six-game home stand – on a rather high note. As most of you will remember, the Tampa Bay Lightning put on a pretty amazing performance against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday night when Ben Bishop earned his sixth shutout of the season in a 3-0 victory over the Leafs.
The Tampa Bay Lightning need to find a way to harness this momentum and keep themselves on the right course as the regular season comes to an end. There has definitely been a lot of divisional action going on over the course of the week, but things are definitely looking up for the Tampa Bay Lightning. As of this moment, the Tampa Bay Lightning are in first place in the Atlantic Division.
If the Lightning want to remain in first place and find themselves in a comfortable position heading into the playoffs, the Bolts are going to have to find some of this elusive consistency they’ve been searching for this season. Thankfully, it looks like this task will become a little easier for the Lightning tonight; especially when it comes to the injury front.
According to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times, Tampa Bay Lightning Head Coach Jon Cooper has stated that both Ryan Callahan and Nikita Kucherov would be game time decisions tonight against Montreal. While this may not seem like the glimmer of hope everyone is looking for, the signs are looking positive for a return.
Unfortunately, no amount of luck is going to make Lightning defenseman Anton Stralman return to the lineup tonight. As most of you know by now, Stralman suffered a broken leg on Friday night against the New York Islanders in what looked like a really horrific fall. There is a very good possibility Anton Stralman won’t be ready to make a return until the postseason, if at all this season.
As the Lightning make their way down the tunnel and to this ice this evening at the Amalie Arena, there is two players the Lightning need to be incredibly mindful of; both for very different reasons. The first of those players is Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty. Pacioretty currently leads the Canadiens in goals and overall points. So far this season, the captain has scored 27 goals and 30 assists for a total of 57 points.
The other player the Tampa Bay Lightning need to be very wary of is Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban. Not only does Subban lead the Canadiens in assists with 45, but Subban is one of those players who never shies away from causing a little trouble. Whether it is laying on a subtly questionable hit or mysteriously finding a way to draw a penalty from his opponents, P.K. Subban can quickly transform into the bane of a team’s existence if not probably neutralized.
Despite the obstacles the Tampa Bay Lightning have been forced to overcome as of late, there is absolutely nothing standing in the way of success with the exception of themselves. If the Lightning can produce the kind of play they did on Monday against the Canadiens tonight, the Bolts should find themselves in a good place when the final buzzer sounds. If not, they may not have a grasp on first place for much longer.
Next: Tampa Bay Lightning Limping Through Final 6 Games
The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:30 p.m. EST tonight from the Amalie Arena right here in the Sunshine State. The one thing we know for sure is the Tampa Bay Lightning need their Thunder now more than ever. So, if you’re headed to tonight’s game, don’t forget to put on your blue and white war paint, throw on your favorite jersey and get ready to Be The Thunder as the Bolts look to defeat the Montreal Canadiens.