Lightning vs. Penguins: Projected lines, injuries
The Lightning host the Penguins on Thursday night at AMALIE Arena
© Scott Audette
Lines from Tuesday's practice at AMALIE Arena. Lightning held an optional skate on Thursday.
Forwards
Vladislav Namestnikov - Steven Stamkos - Nikita Kucherov
Alex Killorn - Tyler Johnson - JT Brown
Ondrej Palat - Brayden Point - Yanni Gourde
Chris Kunitz - Gabriel Dumont - Ryan Callahan
Defense
Victor Hedman - Jake Dotchin
Mikhail Sergachev - Anton Stralman
Braydon Coburn - Dan Girardi
Slater Koekkoek - Andrej Sustr
Goalie
Andrei Vasilevskiy expected to start vs. Pittsburgh
THURSDAY'S MATCHUP
The Lightning and the Penguins are playing their first of three matchups in 2017-18 and first of two at AMALIE Arena...Both Bolts-Pens games at AMALIE Arena this season will take place in a span of 10 games (second game: Oct. 21)...The Bolts were swept by the Pens last season, Pittsburgh outscoring Tampa Bay by a combined 15-7 over three games...The Pens outshot the Bolts a combined 112-82, Tampa Bay's second-worst shooting differential (-30) last season (worst: -32 vs. PHI)...The Penguins rallied from a 3-1 deficit late in the second period to earn a 4-3 victory over the Lightning in their last visit to AMALIE Arena Dec. 10, 2016, scoring three-consecutive power-play goals to end the game...The three power-play goals allowed by the Lightning were tied for the most they gave up in a single
game all season...Despite last season's loss, Tampa Bay has won three of its last four regular season home games agaisnt the Penguins...Vladislav Namestnikov recorded his only career hat trick against Pittsburgh (Jan. 15, 2016) and has recorded eight points (4 goals, 4 assists) in six games all-time vs. the Pens...Steven Stamkos (9-18--27) and Nikita Kucherov (3-7--10) are each averaging a point a game for their careers vs. Pittsburgh...The Lightning are 23-19-0 with two ties all-time at home against Pittsburgh and 36-45-3 with five ties overall vs. the Pens.
THURSDAY'S STORYLINES
Tampa Bay is looking to start the season with three-straight home wins for the second year in a row...The Lightning record for most consecutive home wins to start a season is five set in 2012-13, 2007-08 and 2002-03...The Bolts rank T-4th in the NHL for goals (13)...Tampa Bay has four players -- Nikita Kucherov, Vladislav Namestnikov, Ondrej Palat and Brayden Point -- with multiple goals and trails only Chicago (6), Toronto (6) and St. Louis (5) for the most players with multiple goals in the NHL
INJURIES
2017-18 Regular Season Man Games Lost: 5
Current injuries:
Erik Condra - Back (DAY-TO-DAY) 3 Games
TRANSACTIONS
Oct. 2 -- Assigned F Cory Conacher to AHL Syracuse
Oct. 9 -- Assigned F Michael Bournival to AHL Syracuse
MAKING A POINT
Tampa Bay second year pro Brayden Point tallied the game-winning overtime goal and added an assist Oct. 9 vs. WSH for his thirdstraight game with multiple points to start the season and fourth-straight game with multiple points dating back to last season (also: multiple points in 5 of last 6 games dating back to last season)...Point now has 12 career multi-point games...Point ranks T-2nd in the NHL for scoring (3-4--7), one point behind league leader Evgeny Kuznetsov (0-8--8) of WSH...Point tied a Lightning franchise record for most points through the first three games of the season also held by Victor Hedman (3-4--7 to start 2014-15) and Vincent Lecavalier (3-4--7 to start 2002-03)...Point has recorded points in six-consecutive games dating back to last season and has tallied 13 points (7 goals, 6 assists) over that stretch.
IN THE NIK OF TIME
Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov netted a goal and added an assist Oct. 9 vs. WSH for his second-consecutive game with multiple points and 58th career game with multiple points...Kucherov has recorded points in all three games to start the season and six-straight games dating back to last season (5 goals, 4 assists)...Kucherov (111 career goals) tied Brian Bradley for seventh place among the Bolts' all-time goal scorers following his tally on Monday and can take over sole possession of seventh place with one more goal.
MILESTONES
Steven Stamkos (111 career power-play goals) needs one more power-play goal to tie Vincent Lecavalier (112) for most all-time in Tampa Bay history
Ryan Callahan is three points away from recording his 100th career point with the Lightning
Nikita Kucherov (31 career power-play goals) is one power-play goal away from tying Freddy Modin (32) for ninth among the Bolts' all-time power-play goal scorers
Tyler Johnson (90 career goals) needs two more goals to tie Ryan Malone (92) for 10th place on the Bolts' all-time goal scorers list
