The Tampa Bay Lightning will look to continue their hot start to the 2017-18 season tonight when they take on the Carolina Hurricanes (3-2-1) at the PNC Arena. This will be the first matchup of the season between these two teams. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET.
The regular season is still in its early stages however, it is hard to argue that there is a team more dominant than the Lightning at this point. They lead all NHL teams in points with 15 and have only suffered one regulation loss through nine games.
Not only is the team's great start showing in the standings, it is demonstrated on the stat sheet as well. The Bolts currently have the league leaders in points, goals, assists, and wins (goalie).
Steven Stamkos is making a statement early this year that he has not lost a step since being sidelined for most of last season. He is at the top of the league with 18 points and 15 assists. His goal total may be low, only three, but that is because he is having so much success setting up one of the best goal scorers in the NHL.
Nikita Kucherov has been off to a historically hot start, scoring ten goals in the team's first nine games. He is currently tied for the lead league with Alex Ovechkin. Kucherov is also second in the league in points with 16, only behind his teammate.
Andrei Vasilevskiy has only lost one game this season and looks very comfortable as Tampa Bay's number-one goaltender. Expect him to make his ninth start of the season tonight.
The Hurricanes have not seen much action on home ice this season, playing only two games at PNC Arena to this point. In fact, they have played three fewer games than Tampa Bay this season and are still looking to gain some rhythm. Nothing would jumpstart their season more than taking down the team on the top of the league standings. On the other hand, the Lightning will be doing everything in their power to make sure that does not happen.
Tampa Bay Lines & Defensive Pairings From Morning Skate
Namestnikov-Stamkos-Kucherov Palat-Point-Gourde Killorn-Johnson-Dumont Kunitz-Brown-Callahan
Hedman-Dotchin Sergachev-Stralman Coburn-Girardi Koekkoek-Sustr