Maple Leafs at Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning attempt to finish off a strong month with another victory when they host the struggling Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday. The Lightning have won eight of their 10 games in January, despite a 5-2 loss at Florida on Saturday, to climb back into a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and build a five-game winning streak at home.
Tampa Bay, which led the league with 32 home wins last season en route to an appearance in the Stanley Cup Final, struggled at Amalie Arena before sweeping a four-game homestand prior to the loss to the Panthers. Nikita Kucherov has led the way for the Lightning with points in eight straight games and four goals in his last four contests. Toronto earned points in three straight (1-0-2) before losing at Florida 5-1 on Tuesday and fell into a virtual tie with Edmonton and Columbus for last in the league with 43 points. The Maple Leafs need their power play to wake up after going 0-for-23 over their last eight contests.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, TVA (Toronto), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (17-21-9): Nazem Kadri registered the only goal for Toronto on Tuesday, his second in two games and 10th overall, while Leo Komarov leads the team with 31 points but has notched just one in his last four contests. Jonathan Bernier could get the start in the final game before the All-Star break after James Reimer allowed more than three goals for the first time in 20 contests on Tuesday. PA Parenteau has gone nine games without a goal after scoring twice in a victory over Anaheim on Jan. 6.
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (26-18-4): Andrei Vasilevskiy (7-4-0), who has won his last five decisions, is expected to start Wednesday as Ben Bishop (19-14-3, 2.02 goals-against average, .926 save percentage) gets more rest before heading to the All-Star Game. Captain and fellow All-Star Steven Stamkos is second on the team to Kucherov (41) with 37 points but has been held without a goal in five consecutive contests. Defenseman Victor Hedman has recorded 10 points in his last eight games.
OVERTIME
1. Tampa Bay RW Ryan Callahan is playing strong defensively but has registered just one point in 11 games and one goal in his last 34 contests.
2. Toronto D Jake Gardiner snapped a seven-game point drought Tuesday with an assist on Kadri’s goal.
3. The Lightning have won five of their last seven meetings with the Maple Leafs and three straight at home.