MORNING SKATE NOTES
- Head coach André Tourigny shared that Associate Captain Lawson Crouse, who missed last game due to illness, is expected to play. Kailer Yamamoto, who played for Crouse last game, will remain in the lineup. Liam O'Brien is coming out tonight.
- Forward Dylan Guenther's 200th NHL game is tonight.
- Defensemen Ian Cole and Mikhail Sergachev both played for the Tampa Bay Lightning previously.
Facing the Lightning
Tampa Bay is one of the best teams in the NHL. Not only do they score the second-most goals on average, they limit their opponents to the second-fewest. The Mammoth are on a five-game win streak and to increase it to six, they need to stay simple and continue their strong play tonight against a top team.
“A highly skilled team,” Cole explained. “We need to be dialed in and ready to go from the drop of the puck. If we are, we feel confident in our game. We’ve been playing well recently as well. It’ll be a good matchup.
“Tampa is, by every metric, the best team in the league,” Tourigny shared. “We have a ton of respect, they’re in a good stretch. Having said that, we are too. I think it’s a good moment for us to play them and see where we stand. It will be a really, really fast game. Both teams are good skating teams. They apply a lot of pressure, they’re a hard-working team, so it’ll be fun.”
The First 200
Forward Dylan Guenther will play his 200th NHL game tonight against the Lightning. Tourigny discussed the forward’s first stretch of his career following morning skate.
“I think he has (grown) a lot this year,” Tourigny explained. “He’s still a young player who understands what makes a difference in his game. I think he’s still developing in that sense, playing the right way but his IQ defensively is capable of making plays under pressure as well. I don’t think the moment phases him by any means.”
