Searching for their first win since March 1st, the Tampa Bay Lightning will hit the ice with the Florida Panthers tonight. Tampa has lost five straight games and has given up a lot of ground in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The team is now only four points up on ninth place in the conference. A win tonight, while not a must, would go a long way to ensure that the Bolts are still playing in late April. Lightning head coach Jon Cooper went as far as describing the contest as pivotal.
Just as the Lightning made a big splash at this year’s trade deadline by acquiring Ryan Callahan from the New York Rangers in exchange for Marty St. Louis, the Panthers made a lot of noise by re-acquiring goaltender Roberto Luongo from the Vancouver Canucks. Lightning fans will remember Roberto as a goalie who played lights out hockey against the Bolts on many occasions. Tampa may catch a break tonight, however, as Dan Ellis is expected to get the start in net for the Panthers. Ben Bishop will tend goal for the Lightning as expected.
If you’re looking for reasons to be positive heading into tonight’s game despite the string of Lightning losses, consider recent history between tonight’s two foes. In three games this season, Tampa is a perfect 3-0-0 versus Florida. Adding to that, in each of the contests the Lightning’s offense has been firing on all cylinders. The Bolts have put up seven goals, three goals, and six goals against the Cats so far this year. Steven Stamkos has been a big part of those offensive outbursts, as he was the game-winning goal scorer in the first two meetings. Tonight’s game could give him a big opportunity to score his first goal since returning from his leg injury.
Speaking of Stamkos, it’s worth noting that he’ll start the game tonight on the right wing and not at his usual center ice position. Based on what I’ve seen, it sounds like Tyler Johnson will be his pivot. Johnson, who scored his 20th goal of the season in the team’s last game against the Coyotes, is red hot right now. Damian Cristodero of the Times had this to say about Stamkos switching to the wing:
Stamkos starts tonight on RW, Cooper said. "Not necessarily" to take stress off right leg, though Stamkos said yesterday that is part of it.
— Damian Cristodero (@LightningTimes) March 13, 2014All in all, tonight’s game may not be ‘make or break’ one for the Lightning’s season. That doesn’t mean that it’s not important. Morale in the room can’t be overly stellar with five straight losses hanging over the guys' heads. A victory against a division and state rival could help this team build some confidence as it heads down the stretch and towards the playoffs.
As always, thanks for reading.