TAMPA, Fla.—The Tampa Bay Lightning (1-3-2) will host the Chicago Blackhawks (3-2-2) tonight at Benchmark International Arena for the first of two meetings this season, and all eyes will be on the net as Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy aims to extend a remarkable career streak.
Vasilevskiy is a perfect 13-0-0 against the Blackhawks in his NHL career, a winning streak against a single team that is tied for the fourth-longest in NHL history and is currently tied for the longest active streak in the league. Should he play and win tonight, he’d continue to rewrite the record books.
The Lightning, who are off to a slow 1-3-2 start and sit 8th in the Atlantic Division, are looking to rebound after a 3-2 loss to the Blue Jackets in their last outing. They’ll face a Chicago squad led by former Lightning assistant coach Jeff Blashill, who was hired by the Blackhawks this offseason. The Blackhawks are 3-2-2, currently 4th in the Central Division, and are coming off a 2-1 win against the Ducks.
Key Players and Matchup Stats
Tampa Bay’s offense will lean heavily on its leading scorers, particularly Jake Guentzel (6 PTS) and Brayden Point (5 PTS). Point, in particular, has a strong history against Chicago, averaging the fourth-most points per game (1.35) against them among active NHL players with at least 10 games played. Defenseman Victor Hedman is also a perennial threat, leading the franchise in all-time scoring against Chicago (35 points) and having more points (21) versus the Blackhawks over the last five seasons than any other NHL defenseman.
On Chicago’s side, young star Nazar (7 PTS) and Bedard (7 PTS) are co-leading their team in points through seven games. The Blackhawks have a better overall record than Tampa Bay through the early part of the season and have scored more goals (22 GF) while conceding fewer (17 GA).
Special Teams and Season Series
Special teams could be a deciding factor tonight. The Lightning boast a potent power play, converting at a 25.0% clip (T-9th), and an elite penalty kill at 90.5% (4th). Chicago’s special teams are less imposing, with an 18.2% power play and an 81.8% penalty kill.
The Lightning hold a historical edge over Chicago, going 36-17-9 all-time, including a 19-7-4 record on home ice. However, the teams split their series 1-1-0 last season.
Milestone Watch
Several Lightning players are closing in on career milestones tonight:
- Victor Hedman needs just 1 point for 800 career points.
- Nick Paul needs 1 point for 200 career points.
- Nikita Kucherov needs 3 points for 1,000 career points.
The puck drops tonight at 6:45 p.m. ET.
READ: Cirelli’s Early Brace Propels Lightning To First Win In 4-3 Thriller Over Bruins
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