THN Pre-Game Show: Is the Lightning's Cup Window Closed? Plus Maple Leafs, Blue Jackets and More

Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos chat with Diandra Loux about the Tampa Bay Lightning, plus: Why aren't the Blue Jackets playing their kids more? Where does Connor Bedard rank among recent No. 1 picks? Are the Maple Leafs OK in net? All that and much more.

On a Saturday evening in the NHL from downtown Toronto, it's The Hockey News Pre-Game Show on the Game+ Network with Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos. 

Tonight's guest is Diandra Loux, editor of THN's Tampa Bay Lightning team site. Plus: is it time for the Toronto Maple Leafs to buckle down and for the Columbus Blue Jackets to play their youngsters more?

All that and so much more, so let's get to it. Find the show on TV with the Game+ Network on Tuesdays and Saturdays at 6 p.m. ET.

Segment 1: Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators

- The Toronto Maple Leafs are without Joseph Woll on a week-to-week basis. Do they have to go out and get another goalie or can Ilya Samsonov and Martin Jones share the net?

- Why did the Ottawa Senators hire Jacques Martin as an advisor to D.J. Smith and the coaching staff?

Segment 2: Patrick Kane, Columbus Blue Jackets, Washington Capitals

- Ryan and Michael discuss the first impressions of Patrick Kane as a Detroit Red Wing after playing 16 minutes in his debut.

- Why aren't the Columbus Blue Jackets playing their kids? The New Jersey Devils have been playing Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec, but the Jackets haven't been giving tons of ice time to Adam Fantilli, David Jiricek or Kent Johnson.

- In Washington, coach Spencer Carbery's doghouse is filling up fast, with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Sonny Milano seeing time as a healthy scratch.

Segment 3: Tampa Bay Lightning with Diandra Loux

- Lightning site editor Diandra Loux joins Ryan and Michael to discuss Nikita Kucherov trying to be like Alexander Ovechkin, the bond between Victor Hedman and Steven Stamkos, Andrei Vasilevskiy's fart joke during a media scrum, whether the team's done winning championships for the foreseeable future and more.

Segment 4: Los Angeles Kings, Arizona Coyotes, Connor Bedard

- After the Los Angeles Kings broke a record for most road wins to start a season, are they a legitimate Cup contender?

- The Arizona Coyotes are in a Western Conference wild-card spot and could be playing playoff games at Mullett Arena with a 4,600-seat capacity for NHL games. Would that be a bad look for the NHL or an effective, different experience?

- Connor Bedard is on pace for the best season by a rookie in their first season of NHL eligibility since Auston Matthews. Where does he rank among recent No. 1 overall picks?

Segment 5: Rapid Fire

- Lightning forward Auston Watson was fined for shooting the puck at the end of the game, hitting Jeremy Lauzon on the Nashville Predators. As Ann Kimmel asked on the Predators team site, was it dumb or dirty?

- Ryan and Michael give their initial thoughts on the New York Islanders acquiring Robert Bortuzzo from the St. Louis Blues for a seventh-round pick.

- Is it a good idea for the NHL all-star player draft to return?

- Will we see Jesse Puljujarvi return to the NHL?

Check out The Hockey News Pre-Game Show on the Game+ Network at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Here's where to watch:

- Rogers: Channel 499

- Bell: Channel 1425 HD, 430 SD

- Telus Alberta and B.C.: Channel 924

- Videotron: Channel 778

- Cogeco: Channel 482 HD, 430 SD

- SaskTel: Channel 427 HD, 127 SD

Check out the full episode and subscribe to the audio version (The Hockey News Podcast) on your preferred platform.