Game Forty-Nine: Tampa Bay Lightning (31-13-4) at Chicago Blackhawks (21-22-7)

Time: 7:00 PM EST

Location: United Center, Stormy, husky, brawling, City of Big Shoulders

TV/Stream/Radio: ESPN, 102.5 FM, Lightning App

Odds: Lightning -260

Know the Opponents: Second City Hockey

After a couple of nights of sleeping on their own beds, the Tampa Bay Lightning are back on the road for a quick weekend back-to-back against Chicago and Columbus. After these two games, the Bolts will be home for the last five games before the Olympic break. But before they can enjoy the comforts of home, they have a little unsettled business to take care of first.

Chicago and Columbus have the distinction of being two teams that the Lightning haven’t picked up a win against yet this season. Back in October, before Tampa Bay figured out exactly who they were, Columbus beat them 3-2 on a Saturday. Then, after four days off, Chicago took them down by the same score to drop the Bolts to a 1-2-2 record on the season. Remember those heady days when he were all wondering if the Lightning would be worrying about a first-round pick (thanks to a top-10 protection) instead of the playoffs? Good times!

First up for the Lightning will be the Blackhawks, a franchise that the Bolts have had a lot of success against recently, especially in Chicago. Since the 2010-11 season Tampa Bay has run their record to 13-0-3 in the Windy City. Not a bad bit of work.

For the second game in a row, the Lightning catch a team that has played the night before. Chicago outlasted Carolina in a shoot-out, earning a 4-3 victory. Spencer Knight earned the win while Oliver Moore celebrated his 21st birthday with the shootout winner. After a long game and a late flight back home, the ‘Hawks could be primed for the picking at the United Center.

It will be a game time decision to see if the Lightning are operating at what can be considered full health these days. Anthony Cirelli was a participant in practice on Thursday, which is a good sign he could be in the line-up. Ryan McDonagh was also on the ice, but Coach Jon Cooper ruled him out for the weekend (although he upgraded him to “day-to-day”).

Regardless of who is in the line-up, the Bolts need to keep doing what they’ve been doing, which is shutting down opponents’ offense, especially in the third period. Since the middle of December, when the Lightning embarked on this odyssey of victories, no team has allowed fewer goals (32) overall, and only Utah (8) has allowed fewer third-period tallies than the Lightning’s 11.

The most surprising stat for Lightning fans is that the second period has become the team’s sweet spot. During their streak they’ve outscored opponents 25-9 in the middle frame, a far cry from the struggles they’ve had in the past. Get the lead, protect the lead, extend the lead.

Potential Lines

Tampa Bay Lightning

Forwards:

Brandon HagelAnthony Cirelli (?)Nikita KucherovGage GoncalvesDominic James Jake GuentzelZemgus GirgensonsYanni GourdePontus HolmbergNick PaulJack FinleyOliver Bjorkstrand

Defense:

J.J. MoserDarren RaddyshCharle-Edouard D’AstousErik CernakDeclan CarlileMax Crozier

Goaltenders:

Andrei VasilevskiyJonas Johansson

Chicago Blackhawks

Forwards:

Ryan GreeneConnor BedardAndrei BurakovskyRyan DonatoFrank NazarTyler BertuzziNick FolignoJason DickinsonIlya MikheyevLandon SlaggertOliver MooreNick Lardis

Defense:

Alex VlasicLouis CrevierWyatt KaiserArtyom LevshunovMatt GrzelcykConnor Murphy

Goaltenders:

Arvid SoderblomSpencer Knight