Game Thirty-Three: Florida Panthers (16-13-2) at Tampa Bay Lightning (18-11-3)
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Benchmark International Arena, Tampa
TV/Stream/Radio: The Spot, SCRIPPS, ESPN+, 102.5 FM, Lightning App
Odds: Lightning -142
Know the Opponents: Litter Box Cats
Lingering. Always lingering are these Florida Panthers. After muddling through the first part of the season it appears that the Lightning’s in-state rivals are starting to heat up a bit. Winners of four out of their last five games, the Florida Panthers are slowly creeping up the standings and now stand just four points (with two games in hand) of Boston, the current placeholders in the second Wild Card spot.
Their offense has returned as they’ve scored at least four goals in each of those four wins (a 6-2 loss to the Avalanche is their only blemish) so it should be a good test for a Tampa Bay defense that is nowhere near what anyone thought they would be in terms of personnel at the beginning of the season.
Based on the morning skate, J.J. Moser is likely to be the only player that was thought of as a regular when the first puck of the season dropped back in October. It appears that Emil Lilleberg will be the latest blueliner to miss a game as Steven Santini was recalled today.
Yes, Darren Raddysh was on the season-opening roster, but he was in and out of the line-up for much of the first month. His ability to take over the role of a point-producing top blueliner has been one of the best stories of the season for the Lightning (along with J.J. Moser growing into his role as a true top-pair defender). Other than those two the rest of the cast has spent more than their fair share of time in Syracuse. Credit to the Lightning coaches for being able to integrate all of these players into the system.
The team hasn’t just survived defensively, they’ve thrived. If we go back to November 9th (the day after the Capitals game in which Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh were hurt) the Lightning are fourth in the league in GA/60 at 5v5 at 1.78 and sixth at xGA/60 at 2.5. Having their goaltenders post a .931 SV% over that time frame has definitely helped, but the fact that the Lightning have been shutting down their opponents despite a “Syracuse-ish” defense has been nothing short of unexpected.
Florida will test them, as they always do, as their veterans have picked up the scoring over the last couple of weeks. Old friend Carter Verhaeghe has found the goal-scoring touch that eluded him earlier in the season and has 5 goals in his last 6 games. Sam Bennett has 9 points (4 goals, 5 assists) and Brad Marchand continues his unlikely path as an older-aged point machine with 3 goals and 4 assists in his last 7 games.
There was some good news for the Lightning at the morning skate as McDonagh was on the ice and skating in a regular jersey. It may be a few more games before he’s back in action, but at least he’s skating again. That leaves Hedman and Erik Cernak as the two long-term pieces (depending on what is ailing Lilleberg).
[Update – it looks like Lilleberg is on injured reserve and will be out until February. Cool. So very cool.]
Potential Lines
Tampa Bay Lightning
Forwards:
Brandon HagelAnthony CirelliNikita KucherovJake GuentzelBrayden PointOliver BjorkstrandZemgus GirgensonsYanni GourdePontus HolmbergCurtis DouglasNick PaulScott Sabourin
Defense:
J.J. MoserDarren RaddyshCharle-Edouard D’AstousMax CrozierDeclan CarlileSteven Santini
Goaltenders:
Brandon HalversonJonas Johansson
Florida Panthers
Forwards:
Eetu LuostarinenAnton LundellSam ReinhartCarter VerhaegheSam BennettBrad MarchandMackie SamoskevichEvan RodriguesA.J. GreerJesper BoqvistJack StudnickaNoah Gregor
Defense:
Gustav ForslingAaron EkbladNiko MikkolaSeth JonesJeff PetryUvis Balinskis
Goaltenders:
Sergei BobrovskyDaniil Tarasov
