The Tampa Bay Lightning are back on the road after a quick pit stop at home, and tonight they’ll be skating into the United Center to take on the Chicago Blackhawks. Outside, it’s a frigid -3 degrees in the Windy City, but inside, the action should be plenty heated as two teams riding win streaks clash under the national spotlight on ESPN.
Puck drops at 7 p.m. EST.
Let’s start with the momentum. Tampa Bay is red-hot right now-winners of nine of their last ten, with just one overtime blemish in that stretch.
They’ve found a rhythm, and it’s not just about the stars shining. Their depth has come alive, their goaltending has stabilized, and they’re playing the kind of structured, opportunistic hockey that wins games in January.
Chicago, meanwhile, has quietly strung together back-to-back wins, including a gutsy shootout victory over the Hurricanes just last night. That puts them at 6-4-0 over their last ten-a solid stretch, especially for a team still finding its identity. But tonight, they’ll be facing the second half of a back-to-back, and that’s no small challenge when you're going up against a well-rested Lightning squad that's just getting started on a back-to-back of their own.
Looking at the projected lines, Chicago continues to lean on rookie phenom Connor Bedard, centering a top line with Greene and Burakovsky. Bedard’s vision and puck control have been a revelation, and he’s already showing signs of becoming the kind of player who can tilt the ice. Behind him, the Blackhawks are rolling with a mix of youth and veteran grit-names like Mikheyev, Bertuzzi, and Foligno bring energy and edge, while Nazar and Lardis offer flashes of speed and skill.
On the blue line, Chicago’s pairings are still a work in progress. Vlasic and Crevier get the top billing, but keep an eye on Levshunov-he’s been showing some real poise for a young defenseman.
In net, Söderblom is expected to start, with Knight backing him up. Given the back-to-back, it’s a tall order for the goaltending tandem to hold off a Lightning team that’s been finding ways to score in bunches.
As for Tampa Bay, they’re sticking with the lineup that got the job done against San Jose. The top line of Hagel, Cirelli, and Kucherov continues to be a force.
Kucherov, in particular, remains one of the league’s most dangerous playmakers-he’s the kind of player who can change a game with a single shift. The second line, featuring Goncalves, James, and Guentzel, has been quietly effective, creating chances and keeping opposing defenses honest.
Tampa’s bottom six is built for grind-it-out hockey. Girgensons, Gourde, and Holmberg bring a tenacious forecheck, while Bjorkstrand, Paul, and Finley offer a mix of size and scoring touch.
On the back end, Moser and Raddysh lead the defensive corps, with D’Astous and Cernak anchoring the second pair. Carlile and Crozier round out the third pairing, providing reliable minutes and keeping things steady in their own zone.
Andrei Vasilevskiy is expected to get the start in goal, with Johansson as the backup. Vasilevskiy has been sharp of late, and with the team heading to Columbus tomorrow, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him looking to lock things down early and conserve energy for the tough stretch ahead.
This game has all the makings of a measuring stick for both teams. For the Lightning, it’s about keeping the momentum rolling and banking points during a stretch where they’ve found their groove. For the Blackhawks, it’s a chance to show they can hang with one of the league’s most consistent contenders-even on tired legs.
Bundle up, Chicago. It’s cold outside, but the ice is about to heat up.