The Bolts Will Look to Start Their 4 Game Home Stand With a Win

By Jake Ricker

Overview

The Tampa Bay Lightning (17-6-2) will look to start off their 4 game home stand right as they take on The San Jose Sharks in Star Wars Night! This will be the second meeting between these two teams, the last meeting ended in a 5-1 Lighting victory. The Bolts will look to continue that success whereas the Sharks will look to change history and even the series.

Tampa’s Outlook

As of late Tampa has been up and down, playing well and playing poorly. If the Bolts want to win tonight they will have to play like they did in the third against Boston. If that Lighting team can show up things are looking good for the Bolts. The Sharks remain as one of the top defensive teams in the NHL, the Bolts were able to get past that last time and will have to do so again. Injuries are slowly popping up again so the Bolts will need to have a “next man up” mentality so they don’t fall behind the 8 ball.

Three Keys To Success

1. Play All Three Periods

The Bolts will need to play all three periods like they did in the third against Boston if they want to be able to get a win tonight.

2. Don’t Let Up

The Bolts can’t sit back and watch this one with a hot Sharks team coming into town, they will need to keep them on their toes at all times.

3. Defense

With both Dotchin and Coburn out due to injury, the defense will need to step up and play some of their best hockey to make sure they don’t fall behind early from silly mistakes.

Projected Lines

Offence 

Namestnikov – Stamkos – Johnson

Palat – Point – Kucherov

Killorn – Gourde – Conacher

Kunitz – Brown – Callahan

 

Defense

Hedman – Sustr

Sergachev – Stralman

Koekkoek – Girardi

 

Goalies

Andrei Vasilevskiy:  16-4-1   GAA: 2.23   SV%: .932 (Confirmed)

 

Injuries

Jake Dotchin

Brayden Coburn

 

San Jose Outlook

The Sharks are back on track having won 4 of their last 5 and will to continue that success tonight. The Sharks have played some of their best hockey, especially in offensive category scoring more than 2 goals in the last 5 games. Martin Jones looks like he will be the starter tonight and if he is the Sharks need to play behind him as he has been stellar these past few games, posting a third-best GAA of 2.05. The Sharks are starting a short 2 game road trip and will look to get back home with a few points and a good start in December.

Three Keys To the Game

1.  Stay Out of the Box

The Bolts have one of the best powerplays as they sit at the top of the league in the Power Play category so the last thing the Sharks want to do is give them a chance to put one in the back on the net.

2. Defense

Last time these two teams met the Bolts were able to score 5 goals so the Sharks will need to make sure they can keep the Bolts off the board.

3. Quiet the Crowd

The Bolts are coming back to Amalie Arena after their road trip and the crowd will likely be into this one as it’s Star Wars night as well so the Sharks will need to try and dominate quickly and take the crowd out of the game.

Projected Lines

Offense

Meier – Thornton – Pavelski

Labanc – Couture – Hertl

Boedker – Tierney – Hansen

Karlsson – Carpenter – Ward

Defense

Vlasic – Braun

Dillon – Burns

Ryan – Demelo

Goalies

Martin Jones: 10-5-1  GAA: 2.05  SV%: .930 (Unconfirmed)

 

 

REMINDER: ALL LINES MAY CHANGE BEFORE PUCK DROP