The Lightning lead the NHL with 22 wins and 45 points. The Avalanche are tied with the Nashville Predators for the most points in the Western Conference with 39. Tampa Bay has scored at least four goals in seven of its past nine games and leads the NHL with 115 goals. Colorado is 10-1-2 in the past 13 games, and the Avalanche are second in the NHL with 107 goals. Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen leads the NHL with 35 assists and 47 points, and linemate Nathan MacKinnon is second with 44 points, one ahead of Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov.
Players to watch
Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog has 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in his past 10 games. Lightning forward Mathieu Joseph has five points (four goals, one assist) in his past four games.
They said it
"Last game we know that we can play with these guys and we know that we're up in the top of the standings for a reason. So for us it's a matter of not having too much respect and just going out there and dictating the play from the start." -- Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog "[Colorado's] first line is very dynamic and we're going to have to respect them. But at the end of the day we're going to have to play our game. Our game is playing fast, playing relentless and being hard to play against." - Lightning forward Yanni Gourde
Stralman and Vasilevskiy were on the ice for the Lightning's optional morning skate. Coach Jon Cooper said that nothing had changed concerning recovery time. Goalie coach Frantz Jean said Vasilevskiy would be joining the Lightning on their upcoming road trip at the end of next week and taking part in team practices. … Andrighetto will play after two games as a healthy scratch.
Stat pack
Rantanen has 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) during his 10-game point streak. …Kucherov has 25 points (five goals, 20 assists) in the past 12 games. …McKinnon has 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in the past 10 games. …Point has 12 goals in the past 12 games.
