Lightning vs. Devils: Projected lines, injuries, storylines

[HockeyLady]

The Lightning and Devils are set to meet for just the second time so far this season.

Both teams have been inconsistent as of late. The Devils are currently riding a two-game winning streak after dropping four straight. The Lightning, meanwhile, played well in a 4-1 win over Detroit on Thursday but lost both halves of a back-to-back at the beginning of the week.

Lines from Thursday's game. Subject to change.

Forwards
Vladislav Namestnikov - Steven Stamkos - Nikita Kucherov

Yanni Gourde - Brayden Point - Tyler Johnson

Alex Killorn - Matthew Peca - Adam Erne

Chris Kunitz - Cedric Paquette - Ryan Callahan

Defensemen
Victor Hedman - Anton Stralman

Dan Girardi - Mikhail Sergachev

Braydon Coburn - Andrej Sustr

Goaltenders
Andrei Vasilevskiy or Louis Domingue

Saturday's Matchup
The Lightning and the Devils are playing their second of three meetings this season...The last time these teams met was Oct. 17 in New Jersey, where the Devils bested the Bolts in a 5-4 shootout loss. Steven Stamkos had a goal and two assists, and Vladislav Namestnikov and Ondrej Palat each scored for the Lightning, who had their four-game winning streak end. Peter Budaj made 30 saves. Kyle Palmieri scored the only goal in the shootout and had a goal in the first period for the Devils. Drew Stafford scored twice, Brian Gibbons had a goal and Cory Schneider made 33 saves...The Lightning have won each of their last four home games versus New Jersey, last losing to the Devils at home in October 2014... Steven Stamkos has recorded 17 goals and 29 points in 29 career games vs. New Jersey and has scored a goal in five straight games against the Devils... Nikita Kucherov is averaging over a point a game against New Jersey, tallying 4-9--13 in 10 career games.

Saturday's Storylines
This will be the only time this season the Lightning face the Devils at AMALIE Arena...The Lightning at off to their best start in franchise history with 81 points through 58 games, seven points better than the 74 points put up by the 2010-11 team (34-17-6) and the 2014-15 team (34-17-6) through 58 games...Tampa Bay's record at home is 20-5-1...The Bolts continue to lead the NHL for wins (39), points (81), ROW (37), points percentage (.698), goals (206) and goals per game (3.55).

Injuries
2017-18 Regular Season Man Games Lost: 86
Current injuries
Peter Budaj - Lower body (out indefinitely, injured Dec. 29) 21 games
Ondrej Palat - Lower body (out 6 to 8 weeks; injured Jan. 20) 10 Games

Transactions
Feb. 8 - Recalled F Adam Erne from AHL Syracuse
Feb. 6 - Re-assigned F Michael Bournival to AHL Syracuse

In the Nik of Time
Tampa Bay right winger Nikita Kucherov recorded a goal and three assists Feb. 15 vs. DET, bringing him to 31 goals and 45 assists on the season...Kucherov has recorded points in five-consecutive games (4-6-10) and five of his last six games (4-8-12)...Thursday night was Kucherov's 25th multi-point game of the season, which is most in the NHL and the most by a Lightning player in a single season since Steven Stamkos had 27 such games in 2011-12...He leads the NHL for points (76) and ranks third in the NHL for goals...This is the third-straight season he's scored 30 or more goals...Kucherov is one of five Lightning players all-time to record multiple 30-goal seasons.

Killing It
Lightning forward Alex Killorn netted his 11th goal Feb. 15 vs. DET, the third game in the last four he's scored a goal...Killorn has more points through seven games in February (11) than he did in all of November (5), December (6) or January (3)...He ranks tied for third in the NHL for point since February 1.

Stammer Time
Bolts captain Steven Stamkos tallied two goals Feb. 15 vs. DET bringing him to 23 on the season...Thursday was his fourth-straight game with a point (3-3--6) and sixth game in his last seven with a point (4-4--8)...Stamkos' 44 assists are tied for the second most he's recorded in a season (46 in 2010-11 and 44 in 2009-10)...Stamkos ranks third in the NHL for scoring and 10th for assists.

Squashing Rookie Records
Tampa Bay rookie Yanni Gourde's 22 goals are the fourth-most in Lightning history for a rookie.

Gourde now ranks third on the Lightning for goals and his 43 points are the fourth most by a rookie in Lightning history, behind only Brad Richards (62 in 2000-01), Ondrej Palat (59 in 2013-14), Tyler Johnson (50 in 2013-14), Steven Stamkos (46 in 2008-09), Rob Zamuner (43 in 1992-93)...Since Jan. 22, Gourde ranks tied for fourth in the NHL for scoring (8-5--13)...Gourde ranks second in the NHL for goals among rookies.

Andrei the Giant
Bolts goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 38-of-39 shots faced in a win Feb. 15 vs. DET and continues to pace the NHL for wins.

Vasilevskiy's 34 wins are the most through 58 team games in franchise history (second: Ben Bishop, 27 in 2014-15 and 2013-14)...Vasilevskiy leads the NHL for shutouts with seven and tied the Tampa Bay franchise record for shutouts in a season set previously by Nikolai Khabibulin in 2001-02...Six of Vasilevskiy's seven shutouts have come on the road, a Bolts franchise record for road shutouts in a season.