Lightning at Senators
The Tampa Bay Lightning recorded a big road victory last time out and look to add another when they attempt to avenge an embarrassing loss against the host Ottawa Senators on Thursday. The Lightning, who lost 6-3 at Ottawa last month, snapped out of a 1-3-0 slump with a 4-2 road triumph against Metropolitan Division-leading Washington on Tuesday after scoring three times in the first period.
“I think we earned it,” Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman told reporters. “We played to our standard. We played to the way we know we can play. What’s made us successful in the past is being hard on pucks and penning them in our own end. … Really happy with the way we started the game.” The Lightning lead second-place Boston by one point in the Atlantic Division and are four ahead of Toronto as they take on Ottawa, which sits in seventh place after losing 3-2 in a shootout at Chicago on Wednesday. Mark Stone, reportedly one of very few untouchables for the Senators as Monday’s trade deadline approaches, leads the team with 52 points after notching 10 in his last seven games and is slated to make his 300th NHL appearance on Thursday. Ottawa has won all five of its home games this month and is 14-11-5 overall at the Canadian Tire Centre.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), TSN5, RDS2 (Ottawa)
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (40-17-3): Nikita Kucherov sealed Tuesday’s victory with a breakaway goal in the third period and extended his point streak to seven games while pushing his league-leading total to 78. Brayden Point has warmed up again, scoring twice in the win at Washington to stretch his point streak to five contests (three goals, three assists). Chris Kunitz recorded his 10th goal on Tuesday - one better than his total with Pittsburgh last season - and needs one point to reach 600 for his career.
ABOUT THE SENATORS (21-28-10): The biggest question for Ottawa is whether two-time Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Erik Karlsson, who is second on the team with 41 points - including five in his last five games, will be with the team after the trade deadline. Derick Brassard has picked up his production of late, registering seven of his 36 points in the last six games, while Matt Duchene has notched seven in his last five contests. Marian Gaborik has not landed on the scoresheet in three games since posting two points in his debut with Ottawa.
OVERTIME
1. The Senators are fourth-worst in the league on the power play at 16.4 percent and have gone just 2-for-16 over their last seven games.
2. The Lightning claimed Gabriel Dumont off waivers from Ottawa and assigned him and fellow C Matthew Peca to Syracuse of the American Hockey League.
3. Despite the loss last month, Tampa Bay has won five of its last seven overall meetings with the Senators and three of four at Ottawa.