Nuts & Bolts: Lightning vs. Panthers from Sunrise

Two days after a 5-2 victory over the Panhters in Tampa, the Lightning travel south to take on their in-state rivals on Saturday night.

Lines from Friday's practice. Subject to change.
Forwards
Steven Stamkos - Tyler Johnson - Nikita Kucherov
Ondrej Palat - Anthony Cirelli - Alex Killorn
Carter Verhaeghe - Yanni Gourde - Mathieu Joseph
Patrick Maroon - Gemel Smith - Luke Witkowski
Defensemen
Victor Hedman - Kevin Shattenkirk
Ryan McDonagh - Erik Cernak
Braydon Coburn - Mikhail Sergachev
Jan Rutta -
Goaltenders
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Curtis McElhinney
Saturday's Matchup
The Lightning and the Panthers are playing their second of four meetings this season and the first of two at the BB&T Center...Tampa Bay has won seven in a row over Florida dating back to the 2017-18 season, the longest win streak for the Bolts over their in-state rival in franchise history (previous best: 5-straight wins from Oct. 10, 2013 to Oct. 9, 2014)...The Lightning are 9-1-1 against the Panthers in the last 11 meetings...Nikita Kucherov has recorded multiple points in four-consecutive games vs. FLA (5-6--11)...Mathieu Joseph is on a four-game point streak vs. FLA (2-2--4)...Victor Hedman is on a four-game assist streak vs. FLA (5 assists total)...Ondrej Palat has scored more goals (8) vs. FLA than he has against any other NHL team...Steven Stamkos has more career regular season goals (31), assists (32) and points (63) vs. FLA than he has against any other NHL team...Andrei Vasilevskiy has won four consecutive starts vs. FLA (12 goals allowed total in those 4 wins).
Saturday's Storylines
The Lightning are looking to start the season 2-0 for the third time in the last five seasons and seventh time overall in franchise history (also started 2-0 in 2002-03, 2003-04, 2007-08, 2010-11, 2015-16 and 2016-17)...Tampa Bay is 6-10-1 in game No. 2 when winning its season opener...The Bolts begin a season long-tying six-game road trip tonight in Sunrise (also: 6-straight games away from AMALIE Arena from Jan. 16-Feb. 1)...Tonight marks the first of 15 back-to-backs in 2019-20 for Tampa Bay...The Lightning finished 2018-19 with a 10-0-1 record in the first half of a back-to-back set.
Injuries
2019-20 Regular Season Man Games Lost: 2
Current injuries: Cedric Paquette (Upper Body; Week-to-Week) 1 Game
Brayden Point (Hip surgery; Out) 1 Game
They Said It

Tampa Bay Sports Item of the Game
Lightning Tie-Dye Tee
Tie-dye is back in fashion. Get your Lightning Ocean Blue Tie-Dye t-shirt now in store or online at TampaBaySports.com
The Road Ahead
Sunday, October 6 at Carolina Hurricanes
Thursday, October 10 at Toronto Maple Leafs
Saturday, October 12 at Ottawa Senators