Lightning Eye Fourth Straight Win vs. Blue Jackets Seeking Momentum
Lightning Look to Extend Streak, Blue Jackets Seek Consistency
A thrilling Eastern Conference clash awaits as the Tampa Bay Lightning visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night, both teams eager to climb higher in the playoff standings. The Lightning are riding high, coming off a 3-2 overtime win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, marking their third consecutive victory. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets are looking to build on a dominant 5-1 road win against Boston, securing their second win in three games. In their last 10 meetings, the Lightning have been dominant, owning an 8-2 record over Columbus, including a 5-2 home victory on April 9, 2024.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Riding High on Offensive Firepower
Tampa Bay enters Thursday’s matchup with a 10-6-1 record and sits in third place in the Atlantic Division, just four points behind the Florida Panthers but with two games in hand. The Lightning have showcased an impressive offense this season, ranking 7th in the league with an average of 3.53 goals per game. Despite occasional struggles, their attack remains potent, and they will rely on it to extend their streak to four.
The team has been strong defensively, allowing an average of 2.77 goals per game (9th in the league), but their special teams have been a mixed bag. Tampa Bay’s power play has been effective but inconsistent, converting at a rate of 18.5% (17th in the NHL). Their penalty kill, however, has been subpar, ranking 20th with a success rate of 78.2%.
In their last game against Pittsburgh, the Lightning overcame a two-goal deficit, rallying in the third period with goals from Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli to force overtime. Point’s second goal of the night sealed the win in the extra frame. Andrei Vasilevskiy stood tall with 17 saves on 19 shots, while Tampa Bay outshot Pittsburgh 35-19. With Jonas Johansson expected to start in goal against Columbus, Tampa Bay will look to continue their momentum and capitalize on their scoring depth.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Aiming for Back-to-Back Wins
The Columbus Blue Jackets enter the game with a 7-9-2 record, sitting in 8th place in the Metropolitan Division, 11 points behind the Washington Capitals. Columbus’ offense has shown flashes of potential, averaging 3.22 goals per game (13th in the league), but their defensive struggles have hindered their consistency. The Blue Jackets have allowed an average of 3.44 goals per game (25th in the NHL), and their penalty kill has been solid, ranking 13th with an 80.7% success rate. However, their power play continues to be a liability, converting just 16.3% of their chances (25th).
In their impressive win over Boston, the Blue Jackets took control early, building a 3-0 lead after the first period. Goals from Dmitri Voronkov, Mathieu Olivier (shorthanded), and James van Riemsdyk set the tone, and despite being outshot 10-4 in the second period, Columbus rebounded with a solid 2-0 advantage in the third. Justin Danforth and Yegor Chinakhov added goals to seal the victory, and Elvis Merzlikins made 28 saves in the win, despite Columbus being outshot 29-28.
Conclusion
The Tampa Bay Lightning are the favorites in this matchup, thanks to their dynamic offense and stronger overall defensive play. While Columbus has shown signs of life, their inability to consistently defend against high-scoring teams like Tampa Bay could spell trouble. The Lightning’s depth, especially with Brayden Point and Steven Stamkos leading the charge, should prove too much for Columbus, who has been plagued by defensive lapses.
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