Lines from Tuesday's game against Carolina. Subject to change.
Forwards
Vladislav Namestnikov - Steven Stamkos - Nikita Kucherov
Ondrej Palat - Brayden Point - Yanni Gourde
Alex Killorn - Tyler Johnson - Gabriel Dumont
Chris Kunitz - JT Brown - Ryan Callahan
Defense
Victor Hedman - Jake Dotchin
Mikhail Sergachev - Anton Stralman
Braydon Coburn - Dan Girardi
Slater Koekkoek - Andrej Sustr
Goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy or Peter Budaj
THURSDAY'S MATCHUP
The Lightning are playing their second of four meetings this season against Detroit and first of two meetings at AMALIE Arena...The Bolts and the Red Wings are playing their second game against one another in 11 days, Tampa Bay scoring a 3-2 victory Oct. 16 in its first-ever visit to Detroit's Little Caesars Arena...The Lightning have won eight in a row in the regular season over Detroit...Since 2012-13, the Bolts are 15-4-0 versus Detroit, the 15 wins tied for their most against a single team (also: Buffalo) over that stretch...Tampa Bay has won nine in a row in the regular season at home over Detroit...Nikita Kucherov has recorded 14 goals and 26 points in 28 games (regular season and playoffs) all-time versus Detroit...Tyler Johnson has tallied 13 goals and 27 points in 29 games (regular season and playoffs) all-time against the Red Wings.
THURSDAY'S STORYLINES
With 17 points through its first 10 games, Tampa Bay is off to its best start in franchise history (previous best: 16 points to start 2002-03)...The Lightning have collected points in eight-straight games, their longest point streak since winning nine in a row from Feb. 18 to March 5, 2016... The Bolts are 5-0-0 at AMALIE Arena to start 2017-18, their longest home victory streak since winning nine in a row at home from Jan. 2 to Feb. 12, 2016, and are one of just two NHL teams undefeated at home this season (also: St. Louis, 2-0-0)...Tampa Bay can establish a new franchise mark for consecutive home wins to start a season with a victory tonight (previous high: 5-straight wins to start 2012-13, 2007-08 and 2002-03)...The Lightning pace the NHL for wins (8), points (17) and goal differential (+16).
INJURIES
2017-18 Regular Season Man Games Lost: 4
Current injuries:
Cedric Paquette - Upper body (DAY-TO-DAY) 3 Games
TRANSACTIONS
Oct. 9 -- Assigned F Michael Bournival to AHL Syracuse
ANDREI THE GIANT
Tampa Bay goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 30-of-31 shots Oct. 24 at CAR to pick up his NHL-leading eighth victory of the season...Vasilevskiy has won seven starts in a row, setting a new career high for consecutive starts with a victory (previous best: 6 from Dec. 15, 2015 to Jan. 27, 2016)...Vasilevskiy's seven game win streak (in decisions) is the third longest in Lightning history. Vasilevskiy has given up just four goals total over his last four starts...Vasilevskiy ranks T-4th in the NHL for save percentage (.936) and 10th for GAA (2.22)...Vasilevskiy paces the league for shots against (314) and saves (294)...Dating back to Feb. 27, 2017, Vasilevskiy is 20-5-2 over his last 27 starts, pacing all NHL goalies for wins over that period...Vasilevskiy has won 11 of his last 12 starts going back to last season.
STAMMER TIME
Lightning captain Steven Stamkos tallied two assists Oct. 24 at CAR to tie his career high for multiple points in consecutive games set previously Feb. 9 to March 2, 2010...Stamkos has recorded 2-11--13 over his last five games...Stamkos established a new career high for points through the first 10 games of a season with his two assists on Tuesday...Stamkos extended his season-opening point streak to 10 games and can tie the Lightning franchise record for longest point streak to start a season with a point tonight vs. DET. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Stamkos' 17 assists through 10 games are the most by a player in his team's first 10 games since Peter Forsberg tallied 17 in 2005-06 for Philadelphia...Stamkos paces the NHL for scoring and assists.
