Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Winnipeg Jets (3/14) Game Preview

The Winnipeg Jets will be looking to end their 2-game losing skid against the streaking Tampa Bay Lightning.

Game: Winnipeg Jets (33-23-12, 78 points) @ Tampa Bay Lightning (42-20-7, 91 points)

Time: 6:00 PM CT

Arena: Amalie Arena

How to Watch: SunS, RSN

Jets Preview

The slumping Jets will be heading into Tampa Bay to take on one of the East’s best in the Lightning. Winnipeg will be doing this short-handed, as C Bryan Little has been ruled out for the game along with D Tyler Myers. Both players have upper-body injuries.

With those injuries, along with D/RW Dustin Byfuglien being out with an upper-body injury, the reserves for Winnipeg will have to step up for them to have any chance of winning. G Ondrej Pavelec is also expected to draw the start in place of the struggling Michael Hutchison. The Barrie native has allowed 7 goals on 19 shots in his past two games. He had previously started the past 8 games for Winnipeg.

Lightning Preview

The Lightning are coming into this one hot, having a record of 7-2-1 over their past 10 games. They are led by Steven Stamkos and his 37 goals, along with strong goalie play from Ben Bishop and Andrei Vasilevsky. The latter netminder is expected to start this one.

Tampa has been battered and bruised lately too. They recently lost LW Ondrej Palat to a foot injury for 2-3 weeks, and recent acquisition Brayden Coburn to an upper-body injury for 4-6 weeks. However, they have the depth to cover these injuries in the short-term with players like Vladislav Namestnikov and Mark Barberio.

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