Lightning Aim to End Skid Against Struggling Blackhawks
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Chicago Blackhawks Preview: Lightning Look to Bounce Back in Chicago
On January 25, 2025, the Tampa Bay Lightning will battle the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. This interconference clash comes as both teams enter the matchup with contrasting trends. While the Lightning aim to snap a two-game losing streak, the Blackhawks continue to struggle, having dropped 11 of their last 14 contests.
Lightning Seek to End Road Struggles
After dropping back-to-back games on their current road trip, the Tampa Bay Lightning (25-18-3) will look to regain momentum against the Chicago Blackhawks (15-28-4). In their most recent outing, Tampa Bay fell to the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3, followed by a 3-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Despite outshooting Montreal 35-22, the Lightning were unable to capitalize on opportunities, going 0-for-4 on the power play and committing 16 turnovers.
Andrei Vasilevskiy, one of the NHL’s premier goaltenders, has posted a solid 2.35 GAA and a .915 SV% on the season. However, his 20-14-2 record reflects the team’s inconsistency in recent games. Backup Jonas Johansson (5-4-1, 3.27 GAA, .899 SV%) has also been a key contributor but has not been able to provide the stability needed during the team’s struggles.
The Lightning’s offense has been potent, leading the NHL with an impressive 3.61 goals per game. However, their defensive play has been a mixed bag, allowing 2.83 goals per game, ranking 11th in the league. The absence of defenseman J.J. Moser (lower-body injury) and the questionable status of Erik Cernak (undisclosed injury) further complicates their defensive depth. Nonetheless, Tampa Bay remains a dangerous team offensively and will look to correct their mistakes against a team that has struggled all season.
Blackhawks Struggling for Consistency
On the other hand, the Chicago Blackhawks have had a tumultuous season, with their most recent loss coming in a 4-3 overtime defeat against the Carolina Hurricanes. Chicago took a 2-0 lead but failed to maintain the advantage, ultimately being outshot 48-25. Petr Mrazek, who has posted a 3.26 GAA and .896 SV%, made a remarkable 44 saves but still ended up with the loss. Arvid Soderblom (6-11-2, 2.92 GAA, .907 SV%) has struggled as well, providing little consistency in goal.
Despite a 3.43 goals-per-game defensive average (ranking 30th in the league), Chicago’s offense has been equally dismal, ranking 30th in the NHL by averaging just 2.60 goals per game. The lack of production from key players has been one of the main reasons for their struggles, with Craig Smith and Pat Maroon missing the last game due to injuries, and defenseman Connor Murphy on the IR.
The Blackhawks have now been in the bottom tier of both offensive and defensive categories, and their continued inconsistency has left them vulnerable against higher-caliber teams like Tampa Bay.
Conclusion
As the Tampa Bay Lightning look to bounce back from two consecutive losses, they enter this game with the edge in both offensive depth and goaltending. The Blackhawks have struggled to both score and defend this season, making this matchup a difficult one for them, especially against a high-powered team like Tampa Bay.
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