Ducks at Lightning
THE STORY: The Anaheim Ducks and Tampa Bay Lightning are both in the process of making improbable runs to the playoffs as they meet Tuesday. The Ducks are 15-2-4 since Jan. 6 and have a point in nine straight games (6-0-3), climbing to within five points of eighth place in the West. The Lightning are 9-3-2 since Jan. 17 and were six points out of eighth and seven out of the Southeast Division lead through Sunday.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Prime Ticket (Ducks), SunSports (Lightning)
ABOUT THE DUCKS (25-24-10): Teemu Selanne just keeps making plays. Selanne, 41, became the oldest player to score 20 goals in a season since Johnny Bucyk in 1976-77 on Sunday and he has scored at least 20 in 17 seasons. Selanne leads the team with 53 points and is a plus-7, third best on the team. Corey Perry has played a big part in the 4-0-2 road trip, which ends in Carolina on Thursday, scoring seven goals in the last seven games. Goaltender Jonas Hiller has started 18 straight games, going 12-2-4 with a .935 save percentage. His defense has helped out in that stretch, averaging only 26.7 shots against.
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (26-26-6): Despite the trades of unrestricted free agents Dominic Moore and Pavel Kubina, the Lightning have won the last two games and crept back into the playoff chase. The next four games are critical, with a three-game road trip to Winnipeg, Pittsburgh and New Jersey looming after the battle with Anaheim. Tampa Bay plays 10 of the next 12 at home after that. Steven Stamkos continues to lead the way, scoring his 40th goal for the third straight season Saturday. Captain Vincent Lecavalier suffered an upper-body injury Saturday and is questionable to play.
OVERTIME:
1. Anaheim has won the last three against Tampa Bay – two in overtime and one in a shootout – and six of the last seven.
2. Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin played more than 30 minutes for the seventh time this season Sunday.
3. Tampa Bay defenseman Matt Gilroy and Anaheim center Nick Bonino played together on Boston University’s 2009 NCAA championship team.