Projected lines. Subject to change.
Forwards
Vladislav Namestnikov - Steven Stamkos - Nikita Kucherov
Ondrej Palat - Brayden Point - Yanni Gourde
Alex Killorn - Tyler Johnson -
Chris Kunitz - Cedric Paquette - Ryan Callahan
Defense
Victor Hedman - Slater Koekkoek
Mikhail Sergachev - Anton Stralman
Braydon Coburn - Dan Girardi
Andrej Sustr -
Goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy expected to start
TUESDAY'S MATCHUP
The Lightning and the Sabres are playing their first of four matchups this season and the first of two at KeyBank Center...Tampa Bay swept the four-game series from Buffalo last season, outscoring the Sabres 13-6 in the process...The Lightning scored a 2-1 shootout victory in their last visit to Buffalo (March 4, 2017), Brayden Point netting the game-winner in the First Round of the shootout...The Bolts haven't lost in regulation in Buffalo since April 14, 2013 (a 3-1 defeat), going 7-0-1 since...The Lightning are 10-2-1 in Buffalo since the start of the 2010-11 season...Tampa Bay is 20-21-3 with two ties all-time in Buffalo...The Lightning are 14-2-1 in their last 17 games overall against Buffalo, outscoring the Sabres 51-26 over that stretch...Bolts goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy is 5-1-0 with a .949 save percentage, 1.33 GAA and one shutout in six career starts vs. Buffalo...Tyler Johnson has 11 assists and 16 points in 17 all-time games against the Sabres, career highs for points and assists against a single team...Nikita Kucherov is plus-12 for his career vs. Buffalo, his best plus/minus against any NHL team.
TUESDAY'S STORYLINES
The Lightning are off to their best start in franchise history with a 16-5-2 record and 34 points through 23 games, two points better than the 32 put up by the 2014-15 team (15-6-2) through 23 games...Tampa Bay paces the NHL for points percentage (.739) and goals per game (3.70) and ranks second for wins (16) and goals (85)...The Bolts are playing the first half of a back-to-back set tonight, their fifth of 13 back-to-backs in 2017-18...Tampa Bay is 3-1-0 in the first game of a back-to-back set.
INJURIES
2017-18 Regular Season Man Games Lost: 20
Current injuries:
JT Brown - Undisclosed (DAY-TO-DAY) 2 Games
Jake Dotchin - Undisclosed (DAY-TO-DAY) 3 Games
TRANSACTIONS
Nov. 26 - Re-assigned F Cory Conacher to AHL Syracuse
Nov. 25 - Assigned F Chris DiDomenico to AHL Syracuse on a conditioning loan
Nov. 24 - Claimed F Chris DiDomenico off waivers from Ottawa
Nov. 24 - Recalled F Cory Conacher from AHL Syracuse
Nov. 22 - F Gabriel Dumont claimed off waivers by Ottawa
POWER SURGE
Tampa Bay scored a power-play goal Nov. 25 at PIT to extend its streak of games with a power-play goal to three...The Lightning have netted at least one power-play marker in eight of their last nine games and 19 of 23 games overall this season...The Bolts currently rank second in the NHL for power-play goals with 24 (first: PIT - 25)...The Lightning lead the League for power-play conversions (26.7%)...Over the past two seasons, the Bolts have scored more power-play goals than any other team.
ANDREI THE GIANT
Tampa Bay Lightning: Media Notes
Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy continues to lead the NHL for wins and ranks tied for fourth in the League for save percentage (.930) and sixth for goals-against average (2.30)...Vasilevskiy ranks fourth in the NHL for shots against (626) and saves (582)...Vasilevskiy has allowed two or fewer goals in five of his last six starts and 12 of 19 starts overall this season...Since Oct. 14, Vasilevskiy has allowed two or fewer goals in 12 of 15 starts...Since the trade that sent Ben Bishop to Los Angeles last season (2/26/17), Vasilevskiy is 27-7-3, the 27 wins ranking first in the NHL over that stretch.
