Bolts Look to Make it 6 Wins in a Row as They Take on the Sens

By Jake Ricker

Overview

Tonight it’s the Tampa Bay Lightning (48-17-4) taking on the Ottawa Senators (24-33-11). The Bolts will look to continue their hot streak at home and get their 6th win in a row (5 at home), while the Sens will look to continue their success from last nights game in Sunrise. This will be the 4th time these two teams face off with the first meeting ending in a 4-3 Lightning shootout victory, the second in a 6-3 Sens victory, and the last one ending in a 4-3 Lightning victory. The Bolts will look to take a 3-1 series win while the Sens will look even the series at 2 a piece. Let’s take a look at the game plan for these two teams as they get set to square off.

Tampa’s Outlook and Past

The Bolts have won 5 of their last 5 games scoring 25 goals over that span. The Bolts got right back where they left off and ended their last game after the end of regulation. The Bolts will be looking to play a full 60 min tonight as there have been periods where they have looked shaky. The Bolts are currently ranked 3rd in the league in power play percentage (23.8%). They will look to continue that success tonight as they face the Sens who have the 5th worst PK in the NHL (76.4%). This is the fifth game of an 8 game homestand for the Bolts. They will look to maintain their top spot in the league with another win today.

Three Keys To The Game

1. Miller Time

JT Miller has been on fire lately. Look for him to keep it rolling.

2. Same Fight

regardless of your opponents place in the standings, every game is important.

3. Karlsson Watch

Contain Erik Karlsson. All good things go through him.

Projected Lines

Offense 

Miller – Stamkos – Kucherov

Gourde – Point – Johnson

Killorn – Cirelli – Erne

Kunitz – Paquette – Callahan

Defense

Hedman – Stralman

McDonagh – Girardi

Sergachev – Coburn

Goalies

Andrei Vasilevskiy: 40-12-3 GAA: 2.45  SV%: .925 (Confirmed)

Injuries

Ondrej Palat (1-2 Weeks)

Peter Budaj (IR)

Ottowa’s Outlook and Past

The Sens have had a disappointing season as they sit at the bottom of the league and are having issues with their franchise player. The Sens have won 2 of their last 5 games scoring 13 goals over that span. Despite Being ranked 27th on the PP (16.2%) they will still look to use that to their advantage as they take on the Bolts who are ranked 25th (77.5%) in the PK department. This will be the Sens last road game before they head back home for just one game. The Sens will look to spoil the Bolts 5 game win streak with a win tonight.

Three Keys To The Game

1. Control the Pace

After playing last night in Sunrise the Sens will want to make sure they don’t slow down.

2. Spoiler Role

The Sens are clearly out of the playoff race, but use the “Spoiler role” as momentum for tonight.

3. Karlsson

Erik Karlsson is the heart and soul of this team, show him that you still care and play hard.

Projected Lines

Offense 

Dzingel – Duchene– Hoffman

Ryan – Pageau – Gaborik

Paajarvi – Smith – Pyatt

McCormick – Brien – Burrows

 

Defense

Claesson – Karlsson

Harpur – Ceci

Borowiecki – Chabot

 

Goalies

Mike Condon:  4-13-5   GAA: 3.19   SV%: .903 (Likely)

Injuries

Mark Stone (Out Indefinitely)

Chris Wideman (Out for Season)

Clarke Macarthur (Out Indefinitely)

Flip Chlapik (Day to Day)