Lightning vs. Blackhawks: Projected lines, injuries and storylines

[HockeyLady]

The Bolts have hit a touch of adversity, dropping three straight games after a 5-2 loss on Saturday in Minnesota. Luckily for Tampa Bay, a trip to Chicago may be what they need to get out of their funk. Dating back to the 2010-2011 season, the Bolts have gone 10-0-2 in regular season games against Chicago.

The Blackhawks have also struggled recently, winning only once in their last four games.

Lines from Saturday's game. Subject to change.

Forwards
Vladislav Namestnikov - Steven Stamkos - Nikita Kucherov

Ondrej Palat - Brayden Point - Tyler Johnson

Alex Killorn - Yanni Gourde -

Chris Kunitz - Cedric Paquette - Ryan Callahan

Defensemen
Mikhail Sergachev - Dan Girardi

Slater Koekkoek - Anton Stralman

Braydon Coburn - Jake Dotchin

Andrej Sustr -

Goaltenders
Andrei Vasilevskiy or Louis Domingue

Monday's Matchup
The Lightning and the Blackhawks are playing the second of two regular season meetings this season and the only meeting at the United Center...Tampa Bay is on a 12-game point streak against Chicago, going 10-0-2 dating back to the 2010-11 season...The Bolts defeated the Blackhawks 3-2 in overtime earlier this season on Nov. 22 at AMALIE Arena, Brayden Point netting the power-play winner 3:25 into OT... Ryan Callahan recorded his only multi-point game of the season so far in that win, tallying two assists...The Lightning swept the two-game series from the Blackhawks last season, rallying from a 2-1 deficit after two periods by scoring four goals -- a season high for goals in a single period -- in the third to win 5-2 in Chicago on Jan. 24... Tyler Johnson scored a pair of goals 30 seconds apart, including the game-winner at 6:14 of the third, in that Lightning win...The Bolts completed the sweep behind a 5-4 overtime win at AMALIE Arena March 27, Yanni Gourde netting the game-winner 4:25 into OT... Victor Hedman tied a career high with three assists in that win...Tampa Bay has won four in a row over Chicago...The Bolts have gotten at least a point in five-straight games in Chicago, going 3-0-2 dating back to the 2010-11 season... Andrei Vasilevskiy is 3-0-0 with a .917 save percentage and 2.64 GAA in the regular season for his career vs. CHI... Steven Stamkos is averaging 1.5 points per game for his career vs. CHI, his third-highest ppg regular season average against any NHL team.

Monday's Storylines
The Lightning are playing the second game of a stretch of eight-straight games away from AMALIE Arena, the longest such road stretch in the NHL this season...Tampa Bay is starting its eighth of 13 back-to-back sets in 2017-18 tonight...The Bolts are 5-2-0 this season in the first half of a back-to-back set...The Lightning lead the NHL for wins (31), points (65) and ROW (29)...The Bolts are off to their best start in franchise history with 65 points through 46 games, five points better than the 60 points put up by the 2014-15 team (28-14-4) through 46 games...Tampa Bay leads the NHL for goals per game (3.52) and ranks fourth for goals allowed per game (2.59) and is the only NHL team in the top four in both categories... Alex Killorn will play in his 400th career NHL game tonight provided he's in the lineup.

Injuries
2017-18 Regular Season Man Games Lost: 58
Current injuries
Peter Budaj - Lower body (out indefinitely; injured Dec. 29) 9 Games
Victor Hedman - Lower body (out 3 to 6 weeks; injured Jan. 11) 2 Games

Transactions
Jan. 16 - Recalled G Louis Domingue from AHL Syracuse
Jan. 14 - F J.T. Brown claimed off waivers by Anaheim
Jan. 13 - Re-assigned G Louis Domingue to AHL Syracuse

Making a Point
Tampa Bay center Brayden Point netted two goals Jan. 20 at MIN for his first multi-goal game of the season and fourth of his career...Point (19 goals) moved past Steven Stamkos (17) and into second place among the Bolts' goal leaders on Saturday...Point ranks tied for 21st in the NHL for goals...Point established a new career high for single season scoring with his 41st and 42nd points on Saturday, surpassing his total of 40 points from his rookie season in 2016-17...Point has tallied three goals and three assists over his last four games.

Johnny on the Spot
Lightning forward Tyler Johnson picked up two assists Jan. 20 at MIN for his ninth multi-point game of the season and 52nd of his career...Johnson has tallied points in five of his last six games (4-4--8)...Johnson has recorded at least one point in 19 of the last 23 games he's played (12-16--28) dating back to Nov. 25 and ranks tied for sixth in the NHL for scoring over that stretch...Johnson ranks tied for fifth in the league for goals (12) since Dec. 1...Johnson has 26 points in Dec. and Jan. combined after notching just 11 points in Oct. and Nov. combined.