Toronto comes into town having finally won a playoff round. The Lightning enter with a new group, ready to match up against a team they know all too well.
The Lightning will matchup against the Leafs for the first time this season following their first-round playoff loss last year. The Bolts are 2-0 at home and 0-2-1 on the road.
Where each team stands early in the season
Toronto started the season with Auston Matthews earning back-to-back hat tricks, Marner, Nylander, and Tavares are all producing at a high level as well but they’re coming off back-to-back losses. Shutting that top group down will be the key to the Lightning getting a win at home tonight.
“He’s a phenomenal player, an elite player in this league,” Victor Hedman said of Matthews. “Don't give him those chances. He is going to get his looks but try to keep him to the outside as much as possible. He can make plays too so, try to be physical on him early on and get him off his game.”
With Tyler Motte still out, Jon Cooper seems to have settled on having Brayden Point Alex Barré-Boulet, Nikita Kucherov pair up on the top line. Brandon Hagel, Anthony Cirelli and Steven Stamkos line up behind them.
The Lightning had a much cleaner performance on Thursday night in their win against Vancouver. Nick Paul stepped up in a big way on the power play, as he has since Opening Night. With Stamkos back in the lineup, the team started to operate at a better pace. If they can build as they have each game, they'll be in good shape.
The Lightning are looking to grab points tonight
After earning just one point in last weekend's three game road-trip, the Lightning are looking to grab a couple tonight against an Atlantic Division competitor as they eye another playoff run. They believe the core group still has a long enough runway ahead of them to do that.
“When we're at full strength, I'll take our goalie, the D and the guys down the middle and some of the guys on their wings and put them up against anyone,” said Jon Cooper.
“You take their mentality, they're a proud group of guys. They're just seasoned vets in this league that know what we have to navigate and how we have to do it to get to the playoffs.”
When – 7 PM
Where – Amalie Arena
Where to stream – Bally Sports
Radio – 102.5 The Bone
Projected Lineup (could change)
Forwards
Alex Barre-Boulet - Braydent Point - Nikita Kucherov
Steven Stamkos - Anthony Cirelli - Brandon Hagel
Tanner Jeannot - Nick Paul - Waltteri Merela
Conor Sheary - Luke Glendening - Mikey Eyssimont
Defensemen
Victor Hedman - Erik Cernak
Mikhail Sergachev - Darren Raddysh
Calvin de Haan - Nick Perbix
Goaltenders
Jonas Johansson
Matt Tomkins