Everything you Need to Know Ahead of Lightning vs. Flames

Here is everything you need to know ahead of tonight’s Tampa Bay Lightning game against the Calgary Flames.

1. Nikita Kucherov is expected to be back. The Lightning are expected to get a huge jolt with Kucherov coming back to the Lightning lineup for the first time since October 16th. Kucherov played in just three games and recorded one goal and three assists. Kucherov will skate once again alongside Brayden Point and Ondrej Palat. The league’s best team is getting their best player back. Look out.

2. Steven Stamkos is a game time decision. Stamkos did not participate in the morning skate for “body maintenance”. Coach Cooper stated that Stamkos will be a game time decision as to whether he will suit up for tonight’s game.

3. Tampa Bay will once again be without Ross Colton and Zach Bogosian. Colton will be missing his second game after being added to the NHL’s COVID protocol list prior to Tuesday night’s game. Bogosian has missed the last three games with a lower body injury.

4. Forward Riley Nash was put on waivers yesterday. With Nikita Kucherov’s return coming soon, the Lightning were forced to remove a current player from the active roster. Nash could not be sent to the AHL and would  have to pass through waivers. This afternoon, we learned that Nash was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Coyotes. Nash played in ten games during his time in Tampa and did not record a point. The Lightning looked to Nash to be a solid defensive center when bodies were getting thin up front and he did a fine job during his time with the Lightning.

5. Blake Coleman makes his return to Tampa tonight. The third member of Tampa Bay’s “grind line,”Blake Coleman and the Flames come to town riding an impressive season. Coleman has nine points in 30 games this year as the Flames currently have the best win percentage in the Pacific Division. Coleman was a huge part of the Lightning’s back-to-back championships and scored some of the team’s biggest goals along the way. His most memorable was his diving goal in game two of the 2021 Stanley Cup Final that proved to be the game winning goal and a major turning point in the series.