The Lightning and Senators are playing the fourth and final matchup of the season.
When: Thursday, April 11 @ 7pm EST
Where: AMALIE Arena - Tampa, FL
TV: Bally Sports
Radio: 102.5 The Bone, Lightning Radio
Where to stream: BallySports.com
Lines from Thursday's Morning Skate (these could change)
Forwards
Conor Sheary - Brayden Point - Nikita Kucherov
Brandon Hagel - Anthony Cirelli - Steven Stamkos
Mikey Eyssimont - Nick Paul - Tyler Motte
Tanner Jeannot - Luke Glendening - Austin Watson
Defensemen
Victor Hedman - Darren Raddysh
Matt Dumba - Erik Cernak
Emil Lilleberg - Nick Perbix
Goaltenders
Matt Tomkins
We're getting down to the wire! Tonight’s game vs Ottawa will be game number 79 for the Lightning. Head coach Jon Cooper confirmed that Matt Tomkins will get his first start at Amalie Arena, while Andrei Vasilevskiy takes the night off. Anthony Duclair will be a game time decision as he deals with a stomach bug.
At morning skate, Conor Sheary slotted in for Duclair, while Austin Watson stepped in for Mitchell Chaffee, who was not taking regular rushes.
Ottawa’s playoff hopes may be over, but they always play with tenacity while visiting Tampa, so expect a fast, physical game. Josh Norris, Travis Harmonic, and Dominik Kubalik are likely out while Tim Stutzle is a game-time decision.
As for the Lightning, they’re focused on keeping the same urgency they’ve had for the remainder of the regular season. Players have settled into their own roles and I wouldn’t expect a ton to change in the final week of the regular season.
Nick Perbix and Matt Dumba have been alternating playing on the left side recently, and Perbix has teamed up well with Erik Cernak. Since February 1, the pair has posted a 1.96 xGA/60 in 59 minutes of 5v5 times together.
The Lightning are preparing both mentally and physically for the playoffs, but every game counts. Nikita Kucherov still leads the NHL points race and Lightning captain Steven Stamkos is looking to check off another 40-goal season. Puck drop is at 7pm.
Injuries
Haydn Fleury - Upper-body, Day-to-day
Jonas Johansson - Lower-body, Day-to-day
Mikhail Sergachev - Lower-body, Out