What to watch for as Tampa Bay Lightning host Calgary

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
February 23, 2017

TAMPA, Fla. – Not a whole lot going on at the Lightning morning skate today as they get ready to host the Calgary Flames 7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Sun, 970-AM, tblpowerplay.com in the final stretch of eight consecutive games against Western Conference opponents.

Tampa Bay carries a seven-game point streak heading in to the game and, with a victory, have the chance to move to within two points of a playoff spot by the end of the night. Other games that have an impact on the Eastern Conference standings as it relates to Tampa Bay: Toronto hosts the New York Rangers, Islanders at Montreal and Boston at Los Angeles.

The Lightning got some help on Wednesday when Florida, Philadelphia and Boston all lost in regulation.

So here are the three things to watch for tonight as Tampa Bay returns to action including who might we see in net, who might not be able to play and when .

{mprestriction ids=”1,2″}

Who plays in net:Lots of intrigue around who the starting goaltender will be for Tampa Bay.

It was a very optional skate this morning as only three players took to the ice – Luke Witkowski and Cory Conacher were the two skaters while Andrei Vasilevskiy was the only netminder out on the ice. Now normally if Bishop is not on the ice and Vasilevskiy is for an optional skate, it’s a clear sign that Bishop is going to be the starter.

But Vasilevskiy was not on the ice for long, which might suggest that he will get the start in net.

Given how well Bishop has played of late, winning five consecutive games and not allowing more than two goals in any start, he should get the start for a team that is in need of wins to keep their streak going and continue to move up the standings. Yet, how the goaltending is handled is certainly something to keep an eye on with the trade deadline coming on Wednesday.

Will Jonathan Drouin be able to play?: Drouin missed practice on Wednesday and has been battling some sort of bug since Saturday. Though he missed the morning skate in Dallas due to the situation, he was able to play and has played in the three games since then.

Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said Drouin will be a game-time decision. Conacher was recalled on Wednesday after scoring two goals for Syracuse in Toronto and will be in the lineup if Drouin is unable to play.

Can the Johnson line continue to shine?: The reunion of Tyler Johnson with Ondrej Palat and Nikita Kucherov has rekindled the old chemistry the trio has displayed in the past.

The line was responsible for three of the four goals in Tuesday’s victory against Edmonton and were strong in Sunday’s victory at Colorado, a game in which Kucherov registered nine shots on goal. Against Edmonton they combined for eight points while Kucherov had his third four-point game of the season.

If they can continue to perform at that level and be dangerous every time they step on the ice, not only does it provide the chance for offensive chances, the trio has been strong defensively as well, going head to head with Connor McDavid during Tuesday’s game.

It also opens up some room for the other lines, notably Brayden Point with Alex Killorn and Drouin (provided he can play.)
{/mprestriction}