Lines from Friday's Practice. Subject to change.
Forwards
Vladislav Namestnikov - Steven Stamkos - Nikita Kucherov
Ondrej Palat - Brayden Point - Yanni Gourde
Chris Kunitz - Tyler Johnson - Ryan Callahan
Alex Killorn - Gabriel Dumont - JT Brown
Defense
Victor Hedman - Jake Dotchin
Mikhail Sergachev - Anton Stralman
Braydon Coburn - Dan Girardi
Andrej Sustr - Slater Koekkoek
Goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy expected to start
SATURDAY'S MATCHUP
Tampa Bay traveled to Columbus 16 days ago and shut out the Blue Jackets 2-0 behind a 43-save effort from Andrei Vasilevskiy , the 43 saves tied for third most in a single game in the goalie's career and the most in a shutout effort...Mikhail Sergachev netted both Lightning goals in that victory for the first two goals of his NHL career to become one of just five Bolts all-time to score their first two goals in the same game, joining Steven Stamkos (10/30/08 at BUF), Mark Barberio (1/19/14 at CAR), Cedric Paquette (11/6/14 vs. CGY) and Slater Koekkoek (10/12/17 vs. PIT)...The win this season in Columbus ended a three-game losing
skid for the Bolts against the Blue Jackets...Tampa Bay swept the three-game season series from Columbus in 2015-16, outscoring the Blue Jackets 11-3, before Columbus swept the three-game season series from the Lightning in 2016-17, outscoing the Bolts 13- 5...Tampa Bay and Columbus are playing for the 27th time, the Lightning owning a 15-10-0 record with one tie all-time vs. the Blue Jackets.
SATURDAY'S STORYLINES
Tampa Bay continues to pace the NHL for points (22) and is T-1st with St. Louis and Los Angeles for wins (10)...Since Feb. 4, 2017, the Lightning are 30-8-6 and own the most points (66) in the NHL over that period and second-most wins (first: STL - 31)...The Bolts pace the League for goals with 54 (second: TOR - 53)...Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov will skate in his 300th career game provided he's in the lineup.
INJURIES
2017-18 Regular Season Man Games Lost: 8
Current injuries:
Cedric Paquette - Upper body (DAY-TO-DAY) 7 Games
TRANSACTIONS
Oct. 9 -- Assigned F Michael Bournival to AHL Syracuse
ANDREI THE GIANTTampa Bay goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 33-of-35 shots Nov. 2 vs. NYR but saw his nine-game win streak come to an end n the OT loss...Vasilevskiy became the first goalie in franchise history to earn wins in nine-straight appearances, eclipsing the mark set by Nikolai Khabibulin from Feb. 23 to March 6, 2004 (8-0-0)...Vasilevskiy matched a Lightning goaltending record for consecutive wins in decisions set previously by John Grahame from Nov. 14 to Dec. 10, 2005...Despite the OT loss on Thursday, Vasilevskiy continues to pace the NHL for wins (10)...Vasilevskiy ranks 10th in the League for save percentage (.928)...Vasilevskiy ranks second in the NHL
for shots against (403) and saves (374)...Dating back to Feb. 27, 2017, Vasilevskiy is 22-5-3 over his last 30 starts, pacing all NHL goalies for wins over that period (second: Jake Allen - 18).
HED OF THE CLASS
Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman tallied an assist Nov. 2 vs. NYR, giving him assists in five of his last six games...Hedman has recorded six assists over his last six games...With his assist on Thursday, Hedman (244 career assists) tied Vinny Prospal for fifth place on the Lightning's all-time assists list and can move into sole possession of fifth with one more helper...Hedman leads all Bolts blueliners for assists and ranks T-4th among all Bolts skaters...Hedman ranks T-11th among League defensemen for assists.
