Predators at Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning woke up offensively last time out and will need more of the same when they host the NHL-best Nashville Predators on Sunday in what could be a preview of the Stanley Cup Final. The Lightning, who lead the league in scoring, produced only four goals during a three-game losing streak before tallying seven times over the final 40 minutes of Friday’s 7-3 victory at the New York Rangers.
“It was a tough first (period) for us, just to get our legs back, but I like the way we responded in the second and third, and the guys did what they had to do,” Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper told reporters after becoming the franchise's all-time wins leader (240). The Lightning, who need one point to set the franchise record for a season, trail Atlantic-leading Boston by one while playing one more game, and the Predators won’t be in a good mood after suffering a 7-4 home loss against NHL-worst Buffalo on Saturday. Nashville allowed four power-play goals in the second period and lost for just the third time in regulation over its last 21 games (16-3-2) to see its lead in the Central Division shrink to five points with four contests to go. Second-leading scorer Filip Forsberg (58 points) sat out Saturday’s game for body maintenance and Eeli Tolvanen made his NHL debut, logging 13 minutes, 34 seconds of ice time without recording a shot.
TV: 6 p.m. ET, FS Tennessee (Nashville), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (50-17-11): Tolvanen, the 30th pick in last June’s draft, will get a look down the stretch to see if he can help in the postseason and even received 1:17 of power-play time on Saturday. P.K. Subban snapped a 24-game drought by scoring his career-high 16th goal in Saturday’s setback while fellow defenseman Roman Josi notched an assist to reach 50 points for the third time in four seasons. Vezina Trophy candidate Pekka Rinne (41 wins) gave up a season-high six goals against Buffalo, which could give Sunday’s start to backup Juuse Saros (9-5-7) - who stopped six of seven shots in relief.
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (52-22-4): J.T. Miller has made quite an impression since being acquired from the New York Rangers at the trade deadline, notching nine goals and 16 points in 15 games while matching his career high with 22 tallies overall. Nikita Kucherov was kept off the scoresheet Friday to remain at 97 points - tops on the team - while captain Steven Stamkos is next with 86 but is mired in an 11-game game goal-scoring drought. Versatile forward Yanni Gourde needs one goal to pass Tyler Johnson for the franchise rookie record (24) and is one from tying Brad Richards (62) for the most points for a Lightning rookie.
OVERTIME
1. The Predators are 6-0-2 in the last eight meetings, but the Lightning rallied to win 4-3 in overtime at Nashville on Jan. 23.
2. Tampa Bay D Victor Hedman has recorded four goals and 11 of his 60 points in the last nine games, and leads all NHL blue-liners with a plus-28 rating.
3. Nashville RW Viktor Arvidsson, who leads the team with 60 points, left Saturday's game with an undisclosed injury.