The Toronto Maple Leafs will have a different look to their lineup for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on Friday.
Forward Jason Spezza and defenseman Justin Holl each will play his first game of the best-of-7 series. With Lightning coach Jon Cooper holding the last change now that the series has shifted to Tampa, Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said the changes give some flexibility to the roster.
Spezza replaces Wayne Simmonds on the fourth line, where he'll be joined by Colin Blackwell and Pierre Engvall. Holl steps in for Timothy Liljegren and will play on the second defense pair.
"I think I bring a lot of experience this time of year," Spezza said. "This is the best time of year to play hockey. I think I bring enthusiasm to the game and also can help on the power play."
Spezza, who is in his 19th NHL season, has scored 75 points (28 goals, 47 assists) in 92 Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Ottawa Senators, Dallas Stars and Maple Leafs.
Tampa Bay will use the same lineup from its 5-3 victory in Game 2.
The Lightning will attempt to extend their postseason home winning streak to seven; the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions' streak dates to Game 2 of the 2021 Stanley Cup Semifinals against the New York Islanders.
The last team to win at least seven straight home playoff games spanning seasons was the Pittsburgh Penguins, who won seven in a row from 2017-18.
"Hopefully our crowd will be as loud as ever," Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said. "I thought the atmosphere in Toronto was great. So now it's our fans' turn to show what we've really got here in Tampa. Plus, we're really looking forward to it."
The Lightning understand taking a lead in the series would put the pressure squarely on the Maple Leafs for Game 4.
"In most instances the odd-number games are important," Cooper said. "In this instance it's not quite what Game 5 would be, but it certainly is [important]."
When a best-of-7 series is tied, the winner of Game 3 holds a series record of 227-110 (67.5 percent), including a 4-3 record in the 2021 playoffs.
Here are 3 keys for Game 3: