Tampa BAE Lightning Game 27: Weird Reflection

The Tampa Bay Lightning are back at home to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins for the first of three regular season match-ups between the two teams.

The Penguins, like the Lightning, have an aging veteran group that will likely lead the team into a rebuild. The Lightning are riding a couple years of first round exits while the Pens have missed the playoffs three years in a row. Is there a big difference between the two? Not really if we’re being honest.

But this year feels different, at least for now. The Lightning are the top team in the Atlantic division and the Penguins are (barely) holding on to a playoff spot. If the Penguins can maintain, they may actually give Crosby another shot in the postseason. I doubt it will happen, but you never know!

Speaking of Crosby, he is still doing Crosby things. He leads his team in goals & points. He’s the quarterback of their league leading power play (converting around 33%). And did I mention he’s 38 years old? Crosby is a first ballot HOF candidate whenever he decides to retire. It’s a joy to watch him play.

The Lightning are still injury riddled with Hedman, (newly extended) McDonagh, Cernak, & Point all expected to miss tonight. Plus, newly injured?/sick?/personal matter? Andrei Vasilevskiy joins the list of Lightning regulars to miss the game. Jon Cooper says it is “nothing serious”, but I don’t trust his assessment of injuries at all. In net for the Pens, we should expect Tristan Jarry. Jarry is 6-5-1 vs the Lightning with a 2.84 GAA and .910 SV%.

Prior to Vasy’s status, I felt pretty confident about this game. Without him? This is going to be a tight one. The Penguins aren’t great at 5-on-5, but if they can convert on the power play where the Lightning cannot that may be enough to beat a bubble gum and duct tape defense playing in front of a back up goalie.

Tune in, enjoy the game, and welcome back to Max Crozier who gets activated off the IR. Go Bolts! See you at 7 p.m.