TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Lightning (1-4-2) aim to secure their first victory on home ice this season as they host the surging Anaheim Ducks (4-2-1) tonight at Benchmark International Arena. The 5 p.m. ET matchup pits the struggling Lightning, who are 0-3-0 at home and sit 8th in the Atlantic Division, against a Ducks squad that has won two straight and is coming off a massive 7-5 road victory over the Boston Bruins.
The Lightning have been outscored 24-18 through their first seven games, while their penalty kill is a respectable 7th in the league (88.5%), their power play is middling (20.0%). Anaheim, meanwhile, boasts a high-flying offense, leading in goals scored with 26, though their penalty kill is a dismal 27th (68.8%).
Kucherov and Milestones Loom
All eyes will be on veteran forward Nikita Kucherov, who enters the game just one point away from becoming the second player in franchise history, after Steven Stamkos, to reach the 1,000 career point milestone. Kucherov leads all active Lightning players with 24 career points (8-16—24) against the Ducks.
Defenseman Victor Hedman is also one point away from his 800th career point, while forward Nick Paul needs one point for 200 career points.
Ducks’ Offensive Firepower
Anaheim arrives with two dynamic scoring lines, led by Leo Carlsson (3 G, 5 A, 8 Pts.) and Mikael Granlund (2 G, 6 A, 8 Pts.). Granlund is fresh off a spectacular five-point performance (2 G, 3 A) against the Bruins. Young star Cutter Gauthier leads Anaheim in goals with five. The Ducks will rely on their offense to challenge a Lightning team that has struggled defensively early in the season.
For Tampa Bay, newly acquired forward Jake Guentzel leads the team in scoring with seven points (2-5—7), while Brayden Point is close behind with six (2-4—6).
Goaltending Matchup
The Lightning will likely turn to either Andrei Vasilevskiy (7-1-0 career record, .926 SV% vs. ANA) or Jonas Johansson, who boasts an impressive .941 career save percentage against the Ducks in at least five career games. Anaheim’s starting goalie will aim to shut down the milestone-chasing Lightning offense and capitalize on Tampa Bay’s home-ice struggles.
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