A look ahead to the week of Dec. 5-11

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
December 5, 2016

TAMPA, Fla. – After a compacted scheduled that included 14 games in a 25-day span, including a stretch of five games in five different cities in an eight-period, the Lightning enjoy a needed lighter schedule this week.

So for this team to have three days before playing the next game is a welcome relief to say the least.

Head coach Jon Cooper has hinted around the number of injuries the team is dealing with when asked about it but has never really addressed it beyond a brief mention. But it’s not hard to imagine that more than a few other guys are dealing with issues, somebody like Cedric Paquette, who has taken some hard hits and blocked some shots in recent games.

With that in mind, here is what is ahead for the Lightning this week.

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Tuesday’s practice is cancelled.

Though the team had Monday off, Cooper and the coaching staff opted to give the players two days off to take full advantage of the break in the schedule.

Wednesday the team will return to practice at Amalie Arena. This is when there may be additional information on the injuries to Callahan (who was placed on injured reserve), Garrison (who has missed two games since taking a puck off the inside of his knee at the end of the second period in St. Louis on Thursday) and Drouin (who was a surprise scratch on Sunday after being noticeably absent in overtime on Saturday)

Thursday the Vancouver Canucks come to town for a 7:30 p.m. meeting at Amalie Arena. The Canucks, which open a five-game road trip on Tuesday in New Jersey, have struggled this season. Despite being the last team to lose a game in regulation, Vancouver sits 12th in the Western Conference at the start of the week.

Scoring is the biggest issue the Canucks have had this season, ranked 28th at the beginning of the week at 2.20 goals per game. They have scored two or fewer goals 14 times this season and been shutout four times.

Friday is a scheduled practice at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon at noon. Please take note that these times are not set in stone, nor is the actual practice. It’s always best to double check as updates are generally provided after the game the night before.

Saturday it’s a rematch of the Eastern Conference championship as the Pittsburgh Penguins come to town at 7 p.m. for the first meeting between the two teams since they played a seven-game series in May. Sidney Crosby is off to a torrid start offensively, leading the league in goals with 16 at the start of the week despite missing the start of the season due to injury.

Sunday the team will have an off day.

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