Bolts prepare to face New Jersey in playoffs

by Gary Shelton on April 9, 2018 · 4 comments

in general, Tampa Bay Lightning

Kucherov needs to play well vs. Leafs./CARMEN MANDATO

Kucherov needs to play well vs. Devils./CARMEN MANDATO

Monday, 4:30 a.m.

As it turns out, the Tampa Bay Lighting is in control of the home ice, after all.

The Boston Bruins lost for the second time in three nights to the Florida Panthers Sunday night, giving the Atlantic Division title to the Bolts.

That means the Lightning will open its playoffs on Thursday night at home against New Jersey. The Bolts follow up with another home game against the Devils at 3 p.m. Saturday.

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How effective will Stamkos be in playoffs?/CARMEN MANDATO

How effective will Stamkos be in playoffs?/CARMEN MANDATO

The Bolts lost three games to the Devils this season, all by one goal.

Lightning

Record: 54-23-5

Stanley Cups: 1 (2004)

Head to Head: New Jersey, 3-0.

Who's hot: Brayden Point. Goals in four of last five games.

Who's not: Steven Stamkos. Missed three straight with injury, did not score in 12 games before them.

Goaltender: Andrei Vasilevskiy, 44 wins.

New Jersey Devils

Record: 44-29-9.

Stanley Cups: 3 (last one 2003)

Who's hot: Taylor Hall has six goals in his last five games.

Who's not: Ex-Bolt Brian Boyle has no goals in his last 13 games.

The games

10-17-17: Devils 5, Lightning 4. The Devils won a shootout in Peter Budaj's first start of the season. Drew Stafford scored two goals.

2-17-18: Devils 4, Lightning 3. The Lightning got off 51 shots, but lost to goaltender Eddie Lack, who made 48 saves. The Lightning fell behind Las Vegas for the NHL's best record.

3-24-18: Devils 2, Lightning 1: Goaltender Keith Kincaid has 35 saves to lead the win, New Jersey's fifth in seven games. Kincaid stopped Ryan McDonaugh on a diving save with two minutes to play.

 The Schedule

 Thursday, April 12         7 p.m.          New Jersey at Tampa Bay

Saturday, April 14          3 p.m.          New Jersey at Tampa Bay

Monday, April 16           7:30 p.m.      Tampa Bay at New Jersey

Wednesday, April 18      7:30 p.m.     Tampa Bay at New Jersey

*Saturday, April 21         TBD             New Jersey at Tampa Bay

*Monday, April 23          TBD             Tampa Bay at New Jersey

*Wednesday, April 25    TBD             New Jersey at Tampa Bay

 

 

 

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