Lightning at Penguins
The Tampa Bay Lightning are in the midst of a freefall in the Eastern Conference standings, having recorded only one victory in their last six contests. The Lightning return to the place their four-game losing streak started when they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday in a game between the league’s top two offenses. Tampa Bay suffered a damaging 3-2 defeat at Boston on Saturday, losing for the first time in nine games with a lead after one period. The Lightning allowed the first three goals en route to a 5-3 setback at Pittsburgh on Feb. 24.
The Penguins have split their last six outings, but have seized first place in the Atlantic Division and are coming off an inspiring 7-6 overtime win at Montreal on Saturday. Captain Sidney Crosby has nine points in his last four games and leads the NHL in scoring with 34 - two more than Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, TSN2, RDS2, ROOT (Pittsburgh).
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (9-11-1): The loss at Boston was particularly dispiriting. The Lightning saw three players caught deep while killing a penalty late, allowing the Bruins to score on a 2-on-1 rush. “We played 58 minutes of hard, intelligent, paying-the-price work against a top team in the conference,” coach Guy Boucher told reporters. “We wasted it with a gamble at the end.” Boucher said the Lightning must break its “offense-first” mentality and make smarter plays with the puck. The Lightning lost left wing Benoit Pouliot indefinitely with an upper-body injury, but could get defenseman Sami Salo back after he missed the last two contests.
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (14-8-0): Pittsburgh has averaged four goals in winning six of the last nine, tallying 17 times in four games since reigning Hart Trophy winner Evgeni Malkin went down with a concussion. Crosby has taken the lead, but Chris Kunitz, James Neal, Malkin and defenseman Kris Letang all have at least 19 points. The Penguins have scored at least one power-play goal in 13 of the last 14 games. Center Brandon Sutter, who moved up to the second line with Malkin out, scored twice against Montreal - including the winner. Malkin practiced on Sunday, but likely won’t play along with defenseman Paul Martin (lower-body injury).
OVERTIME
1. Stamkos has a nine-game point streak, which includes eight goals and seven assists.
2. Pittsburgh has scored 23 goals in its four straight victories over Tampa Bay. The Lightning won the previous four – three in the 2011 playoffs.
3. The Lightning scored two power-play goals for the first time since Feb. 1 on Saturday against Boston.