The Tampa Bay Lightning are set to face off against the Pittsburgh Penguins in an exciting matchup tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET at PPG Paints Arena. The Lightning, currently in second place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 28-13-3 and 59 points, enter the game on a high note, having won their last ten games. Their most recent victories came in a two-game series sweep against the Philadelphia Flyers, where they outscored their opponents 12-3.
The Penguins, holding fifth place in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 21-14-9 and 51 points, are beginning a three-game homestand after a challenging shutout loss to the Boston Bruins. Following the game against the Lightning, they will face the Philadelphia Flyers and the Columbus Blue Jackets before embarking on a West Coast trip.
A noteworthy aspect for the Penguins is their historical success against the Lightning; they have secured points in eight of their last 11 matchups against Tampa Bay (7-3-1). As both teams clash tonight, the Penguins need to tighten their defense, especially given the Lightning’s strong scoring abilities.
For the Lightning, key players are in excellent form. Nikita Kucherov is nearing the top of the league’s production chart with 65 points (22 goals and 43 assists) in 39 games, and he recently tied a franchise record with his ninth consecutive multi-point game. Gage Goncalves has joined Kucherov and Brayden Point on the top line, although there are questions about Point’s availability after he suffered a leg injury in the last game.
In net, Andrei Vasilevskiy is expected to start against the Penguins. This season, he has recorded a .912 save percentage and is looking to improve his numbers against Pittsburgh, where he has historically faced challenges.
On the Penguins’ side, Sidney Crosby is just one point away from achieving his 50th point of the season, further highlighting his consistent performance. The Penguins may also shuffle their lineup to regain momentum, particularly with the possible return of Bryan Rust, who has been sidelined due to injury.
Tonight’s game promises to be an intense showdown, with the Lightning looking to extend their winning streak and the Penguins striving to turn their fortunes around at home. As both teams compete, fans can expect a thrilling display of skill and determination.