The Hockey News' Derek Lee previews the Ducks' matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Ducks face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning for the second and final time this season. This is the Lightning's only trip to Honda Center this season.
The first matchup back in January was the Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos show. Both players had three points apiece with all six of those points coming on the power play. The Lightning also scored three power-play goals in that game.
The team that suffered a defeat to the Lightning that night looks a bit different in the present. Leo Carlsson, Pavel Mintyukov and Trevor Zegras all missed that game due to injury, but all three may be in the lineup tonight.
Mintyukov has been a staple in the lineup since returning from a separated shoulder on Feb. 13. Paired most frequently with Ilya Lyubushkin prior to the trade deadline, Mintyukov has seen time with both Radko Gudas and now Jackson LaCombe after Lyubushkin was dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Carlsson has missed time due to various injuries and narrowly avoided another long-term injury on Thursday after colliding knees with Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Alex Vlasic. Carlsson had to be assisted off the ice and did not return to the game, but participated fully in practice yesterday and looks set to play tonight.
Zegras has missed nearly the last three months with a broken ankle that he suffered in the same game that Mintyukov suffered his separated shoulder. Head coach Greg Cronin said yesterday that Zegras is a game-time decision for tonight, stating that they want to make sure they don't drop him into a game where 'he's not comfortable (and) his timing's off'.
Fast Facts:
-With his 30th goal of the season on Thursday, Frank Vatrano became the 31st player in franchise history to record a 30+ goal season.
-Former Lightning Alex Killorn scored twice on Thursday, giving him six goals in the last 10 games.
Ducks Projected Lines
Alex Killorn - Leo Carlsson - Troy Terry
Trevor Zegras - Mason McTavish - Frank Vatrano
Max Jones - Ryan Strome - Brett Leason
Ross Johnston - Isac Lundeström - Jakob Silfverberg
Cam Fowler - Olen Zellweger
Pavel Mintyukov - Jackson LaCombe
Urho Vaakanainen - Gustav Lindström
John Gibson
Lightning Projected Lines
Anthony Duclair - Brayden Point - Nikita Kucherov
Brandon Hagel - Anthony Cirelli - Steven Stamkos
Mitchell Chaffee - Nick Paul - Mikey Eyssimont
Tanner Jeannot - Luke Glendening - Tyler Motte
Victor Hedman - Darren Raddysh
Matt Dumba - Erik Černák
Emil Martinsen Lilleberg - Nick Perbix
Jonas Johansson