Streaks are set to conflict because the Tampa Bay Lightning eye a 3rd consecutive victory Thursday evening opposed to the Dallas Stars, who will search for a 9th immediately domestic win.
Tampa Bay (39-23-5, 83 issues) is vying for home-ice benefit within the first spherical of the Japanese Convention playoffs with a possibility to complete in first position within the Atlantic Department.
Since Jan. 30, the Lightning are 13-3-2 and feature earned 5 issues in each and every of the final 3 video games.
“Common season is ready ups and downs, so it is mainly 82 video games of preparation for the playoffs,” Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stated.
Dallas (43-21-3, 89 issues) is moment within the Central Department, whilst additionally protecting the second-most issues within the Western Convention. At the heels of a 1-2-1 travel, the Stars earned a 4-3 domestic victory in time beyond regulation over the Anaheim Geese on Tuesday.
The Stars are tied for the longest domestic successful streak in Dallas historical past.
“We are a veteran crew in right here,” stated Stars defenseman Thomas Harley, who had a function with two assists opposed to the Geese.
“We all know that if we play our recreation, we are going to have a possibility to win each recreation.”
The Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov and Jake Guentzel each and every scored aims in a 2-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday. The duo now has a mixed for 62 aims. Vasilevskiy made 22 saves for his 5th shutout of the season.
Tampa Bay has allowed two overall aims in successful two immediately after giving up 17 within the earlier 4 contests.
“We put ourselves in a great place right here for the stretch run,” Tampa Bay defenseman Ryan McDonagh stated.
“We simply need to construct our recreation to as as regards to 60 mins as we will right here, and each and every recreation goes to be extra intense and extra important right here for us.”
The depth stage might be prime Thursday in Dallas, the place the Stars are 25-7-1 and have not misplaced since Jan. 21. Dallas has additionally scored greater than 3 aims seven instances all through their eight-game domestic streak, and received part of the ones contests by way of one function.
“Now we have simply were given to stay running,” stated Harley, who has two aims with 10 assists within the final seven domestic video games.
Matt Duchene had a function with an help and Roope Hintz additionally scored as Dallas tallied two times within the 3rd length of a 4-2 win at Tampa Bay on Nov. 23.
Kucherov and Guentzel had been each and every blanked in that contest, however teammate Anthony Cirelli scored two times opposed to the Stars. Cirelli has secured a moment immediately season with no less than 20 aims and assists, however he is been held with out a level in 8 of his final 9 contests.
Vasilevskiy (2.24 goals-against moderate) allowed six aims all through his most up-to-date beginning at Dallas, an 8-1 Lightning loss on Dec. 2, 2023. Backup Jonas Johansson (3.12 goals-against moderate) hasn’t ever made a beginning opposed to the Stars.
Dallas’ Jake Oettinger (2.55 goals-against moderate) made 27 saves at Tampa Bay previous this season. Stars backup Casey DeSmith has a 2.01 goals-against moderate and .931 save share all through a six-start win streak.
With two assists Tuesday, Hintz has recorded 5 immediately multi-point domestic video games (two aims, 13 assists).
–Box Stage Media