If the Tampa Bay Lightning are to win back-to-back games for the first time in about a month, they are going to have to do it without the help of Vincent Lecavalier. The Lightning are back at the Tampa Bay Times Forum tonight, and are certainly ready to take on the New York Islanders. Fresh off a long rest, the Islanders arrive having beaten top teams like the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators in recent weeks. Simply put – the Lightning’s depleted roster is going to have its hands full this evening.

Tonight’s contest marks the start of a three game “make or break” home stand for the Tampa Bay Lightning. As of right now, the Bolts sit five points out of eighth place and eight points out of the Southeast Division lead. In a shortened season, those numbers look like the proverbial Mount Everest. While tonight’s game isn’t mathematically a must win situation, it might as well be labeled one. This Lightning needs wins, and it needs them now. With 22 games left in the season, common sense math would indicate that the Lightning need 15 to make the playoffs. Basically, the Bolts need to beat the New York Islanders.

The big news coming out of Lightning HQ today is the fact that Vincent Lecavalier is out “indefinitely” with an injury. The loss of Lecavalier is, to be frank, a big one. Lecavalier’s play this season has been as good as it has been in years. He’s hit, fought, scored, assisted, and led this Lightning team like never before. He is arguably one of the best second line centers in the league and, no matter how you cut it, the fact that he won’t be in the lineup for the foreseeable future is frightening.

With Lecavalier out, Tyler Johnson has been recalled from the Syracuse Crunch. Lightning fans know Johnson as an undersized forward with heart, grit, and a whole ton of talent. During his Western Hockey League days and now in the American League, he has scored at a great clip. His unique ability to win puck battles and generate offense as a smaller player is not so unlike Martin St. Louis. Adding Johnson to an already young group of Crunch stars on the Lightning roster will certainly be interesting to watch.

Moving onto specifics regarding tonight’s tilt, it’s imperative that the Lightning’s offensive core takes advantage of an Islanders team that has allowed some huge goals against numbers in recent weeks. In the last month, the Islanders have allowed six goals to the Penguins, five goals to the Leafs, four goals to the Bruins and Hurricanes, and seven goals to the Philadelphia Flyers. There’s an argument to be made that the Lightning’s offense is equally as dangerous, or even more dangerous than each of the aforementioned groups.

Despite less-than-impressive depth, the Islanders do boast a lot of great pieces at the top end. Players like John Taveres, Matt Moulson, and Brad Boyes are all 20-plus point players on a team that has scored ten fewer goals than it has allowed this year. As the Lightning’s defense and goaltending has struggled this season, look for those guys to get lots of ice time, and some great opportunities. The Lightning are going to need to be on their game to shut the Islanders’ top guns down.

All in all, this is another must win for the Lightning. Until they either get themselves right back in the race or drop off completely, every game is a must win. An effort similar to the one they gave last game against the Panthers isn’t going to get the job done. The Lightning need to bring that killer instinct and offensive push that was present to start the 2013 season. Anything less and it might just be time to book your tee times already.

As always, thanks for reading. Predictions?

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