Lightning have chance at a “Triple Crown” tonight against the Coyotes
By Ben Ebert
Fresh off a big win over the reigning Stanley Cup champion Capitals two nights ago, the Lightning will face another tough test at home tonight in the Arizona Coyotes.
The Coyotes are coming in with a 7-2-1 record in their last 10 games and currently hold the second wild card spot in the Western Conference, just two points back of the Dallas Stars. In what will be start of the final 10-game stretch of the regular season for both teams, plenty will be on line as Arizona will keep trying to separate themselves from the likes of the Wild, Avalanche and Blackhawks who remain close behind in the “Wild West” wild card chase.
Meanwhile the Bolts will have the ability to lock up their own version of a “triple crown” tonight, as a win will guarantee them the Atlantic Division, Eastern Conference and NHL regular season titles. This would be the Bolts’ second-straight division title and fourth in team history, third-ever conference title and first Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history.
While the pomp and circumstance of these accomplishments would be great, the true value in clinching this “triple crown” would be the guaranteed home-ice advantage throughout the entire Stanley Cup playoffs.
This one could serve as a perfect “trap game” for the Lightning, with the matchup tonight coming directly between two hugely anticipated games against the Caps. But despite the expected hangover from the big weekend victory two nights ago and the undeniable thirst for the rematch in the nation’s capital on Wednesday, the Bolts remain focused on the task at hand tonight against an Arizona team that is desperately seeking its first playoff berth since 2012.
On Arizona: "They're fighting for a spot, fighting for their lives. They're a good team. They've been playing really [well] down the stretch... I know they're going to be desperate to win, and we've got to match it."#ARIvsTBL | Anthony Cirelli: pic.twitter.com/gaKHaRXKbw
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) March 18, 2019
In their only other meeting this season the Bolts were certainly outmatched against the Coyotes, taking a 7-1 trouncing back in October on the road which has been the Lightning’s most lopsided loss so far this season.
However, that was only the 10th game on the year and it can certainly be stated that much has changed from then to now for what will be the 10th-to-last game on the year. This is a dominant Bolts squad that has proven it can win big in a variety of ways.
Expect a great one tonight at Amalie Arena!
Anticipated Tampa Bay Lightning Lines:
Forwards
Ondrej Palat– Steven Stamkos– J.T. Miller
Tyler Johnson– Brayden Point– Nikita Kucherov
Alex Killorn– Anthony Cirelli– Mathieu Joseph
Adam Erne– Cedric Paquette – Yanni Gourde
Defensemen
Victor Hedman – Mikhail Sergachev
[Dan Girardi, Anton Stralman still day-to-day]
[Cameron Gaunce has been called up from the Syracuse Crunch]
Goaltenders
Lightning vs. Coyotes:
Amalie Arena – 7:30pm EST
Watch: ESPN+, Fox Sports Sun, Fox Sports AZ Plus
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