About the Lightning - 03-31-10
A preview of the Lightning.
When and where: 7:30 p.m., Mellon Arena.
TV: FSN Pittsburgh, Sun Sports, Gopher Hunting Network Versus.
Record: 30-34-12, 72 points. The Lightning is in in 14th place in the Eastern Conference and last place in the Southeast Division.
Leading Scorer: Martin St. Louis, 88 points (27 goals, 61 assists).
Last Game: 3-2 road loss at Columbus, last night. Antero Niittymaki made 23 saves for Tampa Bay.
Last Game against the Penguins: 2-1 home loss, March 14. Marc-Andre Fleury made 21 saves for the Penguins.
Lightning Player We Would Bet Money On Scoring: Vincent Lecavalier (right). He has points in his last five games against the Penguins.
Ex-Penguins on the Lightning: Jim Johnson, assistant coach; Greg Malone, head professional scout; Ryan Malone, LW; Rick Tocchet, head coach
Ex-Lightning on the Penguins: Ruslan Fedotenko, LW.
Useless Lightning Trivia Vaguely Related to the Penguins: Lightning captain Vincent Lecavalier has worn No. 4 since the 1999-2000 season. The only other player in franchise history wear that number is former Penguins defenseman Cory Cross who had it from 1993 through 1999.
Best Lightning YouTube Video We Could Find: Lightning forward and former Penguin Ryan Malone fightning with former Islanders captain and current Penguin Bill Guerin:
Notes:
-Marc-Andre Fleury (35-19-6, 2.65 GAA, .906 SV%) and Antero Niittymaki (20-18-5, 2.80 GAA, .910 SV%) are your expected starters in net.
-For the Penguins, defenseman Sergei Gonchar (illness) is probable. Forward Evgeni Malkin (foot) is questionable.
-For the Lightning, defensemen David Hale ("lower body") and Paul Ranger (personal leave) are out. Forward Ryan Malone (knee/"upper body"), defensemen Victor Hedman ("lower body"), Matt Smaby (back spasms) and Matt Walker (back) are questionable.
-Kris Letang just got paid.
-Sergei Gonchar has strep throat. Don't share any utensils with him.
-The Penguins' lines in practice yesterday:
Alexei Ponikarovsky-Sidney Crosby-Pascal Dupuis
Chris Kunitz-Jordan Staal-Bill Guerin
Matt Cooke-Tyler Kennedy-Ruslan Fedotenko
Mike Rupp-Max Talbot-Craig Adams
Evgeni Malkin-Eric Godard
-Assuming he plays, Jay McKee will appear in his 800th career game.
-Lightning coach and former Penguins forward Rick Tocchet (right) took his team to task over undisciplined penalties last night.
-Tampa Bay forward Steven Stamkos, the first-overall pick in the 2008 draft, is right on the heels of two other top overall picks in the race for the Richard Trophy.
-Lightning defenseman Mike Lundin has a four-game scoring streak.
-Bet You Didn't Know: Tampa Bay forward Steve Downie has 21 goals this season.
-Assuming they don't meet the Penguins in the postseason (The Lightning is still mathematically eligible for the playoffs), this will be the Lightning's final game in Civic/Mellon Arena. All-time, the Lightning has a 11-16-5 record in the building.
-The Lightning's first game in the Civic Arena was a 3-3 tie, Feb. 27, 1993, one day after the bombing of the World Trade Center. Kevin Stevens got the Penguins on the scoreboard first as beat former Penguins goaltender Wendell Young (right) for a power-play goal off assists from Joe Mullen and Larry Murphy 3:39 into the game. Tampa Bay's Mikael Andersson tied the game with 1:08 left in the period after a turnover by Ulf Samuelsson. Danton Cole recorded the only assist. The Penguins quickly reclaimed the lead 48 seconds later when Joe Mullen fired a slapper from the right circle by Young. Shawn McEachern and Jim Paek recorded assists. The Penguins took a two goal lead 5:40 into the second when Mullen scored his second goal of the game and his 900th career point off a shorthanded breakaway. Ron Francis recorded the only assist. At 12:53 of the period, Brian Bradley beat Tom Barrasso to narrow the lead to one goal. Rob Zamuner and Chris Lipuma had assists. The Lightning was able to earn the tie at 9:46 in the third off a goal by Zamuner with an assist from Brian Bradley.
-Barrasso made 34 saves for the Penguins while Young stopped 20 shots against his former team. Murphy appeared in his 1,00th career game.
-Our live blog begins at approximately 6:30 p.m. Please tune in.
(Photos: Lecavalier-Dave Sandford/Getty Images; Tocchet-Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press; Young-Tampa Bay Lightning)