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Vancouver Canucks @ Tampa Bay Lightning Preview

By Austin Hart

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 07: Mikhail Sergachev #98 of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Elias Pettersson #40 of the Vancouver Canucks fights for the puck during a game at Amalie Arena on January 07, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 07: Mikhail Sergachev #98 of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Elias Pettersson #40 of the Vancouver Canucks fights for the puck during a game at Amalie Arena on January 07, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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In the second game of a short homestand, the Tampa Bay Lightning (25-13-1) welcome a Pacific Division opponent in the Vancouver Canucks (17-20-3). Puck drop is expected at 7:00 p.m. ET at Amalie Arena with Tampa Bay as the -255 favorite heading into the game and an over/under set at 6.5, according to FanDuel.

The Lightning are coming off of an impressive win at home on Tuesday, taking care of the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-3. The Bolts certainly took advantage of the power play, as four different opportunities yielded three crucial goals from Nick Paul, Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point. Kucherov ended up with two goals & two assists in the game as Tampa Bay answered back each time Columbus drew within one. They will look to stay hot at home again tonight, aiming to win nine straight games at Amalie Arena.

The Vancouver Canucks are in the midst of a tough five-game road trip that’s already saddled them with two losses in Winnipeg and Pittsburgh. A bumpy season overall has them sitting near the bottom of the Pacific division in sixth place. The Lightning need to take care of business and play with energy similar to the Columbus game rather than fall victim to underestimating Vancouver due to their division placement and season struggles.

This marks the first of two meetings between these two teams this season, however the second game of the season series is only six days away on January 18th. That game will be set in Vancouver. Last season, the Bolts swept the season series with two wins over the Canucks, including a 4-2 win at home on January 13th.

INJURIES: LW Rudolfs Balcers remains out for the Lightning.

G Thatcher Demko and LW Tanner Pearson are traveling with the Canucks on this road trip in hopes of rejoining the lineup, however it is not certain when that exactly will be. D Tucker Poolman remains on IR.

Odds (Courtesy of FanDuel): TBL -255 ML/VAN +205 ML, Over 6.5 -128/Under 6.5 +104

Where to watch: Bally Sports Sun, NHL PowerPlay, ESPN+

Where to listen: Lightning Radio 24/7, 102.5 MHz-FM

Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL

January 12, 2023, 7:00 p.m. ET

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