Game Two: Tampa Bay Lightning vs Washington Capitals

Alright maybe we are getting ahead of ourselves, but there is no denying how much this feels like a mini-playoff series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals.

In what will be their second of three meetings this season within a total span of fifteen days, the Bolts visit the nation’s capital tonight to face off against the current Metropolitan Division-leading Capitals.

Tampa Bay took the first meeting just five days ago on Saturday night in their home arena, securing a franchise-best 55th win and 114 points in a 6-3 victory that also saw third-line winger Alex Killorn log his first-ever hat trick. Now the home-ice is shifted over to the Caps as they will be seeking a big response.

“Feels like a little bit of war,” said Washington forward Jakub Vrana in a Washington Post report. “(Tampa Bay) looked really desperate last game and now we are at our home barn and we will definitely want to give it to them back.”

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The Caps will be the less-rested team as they are on the second leg of a back-to-back tonight, while the Bolts will be kicking off the first of their back-to-back games between tonight and tomorrow.

Defenseman Jan Rutta will remain in the lineup for the Bolts alongside Braydon Coburn, as it was just announced today that Dan Girardi’s recovery from a lower-body injury will take longer than initially expected. Anton Stralman is nearing his return from an LBI, potentially as early as next week.