Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Columbus Blue Jackets: A Clash in the Sunshine State

The Tampa Bay Lightning return to Amalie Arena on Tuesday night to kick off a favorable stretch of five home games in their next six contests. Awaiting them are the Columbus Blue Jackets, who handed the Bolts a stunning 7-6 overtime loss earlier this season.

For Tampa Bay, this game marks a chance to solidify momentum after a successful Western road trip, while Columbus hopes to shake off recent struggles as they face the daunting task of playing their third game in four nights.

Last Meeting Recap: Columbus Stuns Tampa Bay

When these two teams last met on November 21, it was a rollercoaster ride. Tampa Bay jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first 12 minutes, only to watch Columbus rally not once, but twice. The Blue Jackets ultimately secured a thrilling 7-6 overtime victory, with Zach Werenski delivering the game-winning goal.

That result proved Columbus’ resilience, but Tampa Bay will look to flip the script at home this time around.

Lightning Strike Back: Road Trip Recap

The Lightning return to Tampa Bay after a solid 3-1-0 road trip, picking up wins over Vancouver, Calgary, and Seattle, while narrowly falling to Edmonton, 2-1. However, the trip wasn’t all smooth sailing, as injuries mounted along the way.

  • Anthony Cirelli (12 goals, 15 assists) exited early against Vancouver after a hard check and missed the final game of the trip.
  • Defenseman Erik Cernak was also sidelined with an injury.
  • Star blueliner Victor Hedman (4 goals, 21 assists) missed the last two games as a precaution.

Despite the setbacks, Tampa Bay’s offense continued to shine:

  • Jake Guentzel extended his goal streak to six games, tying Cirelli for the team’s longest of the season.
  • Nikita Kucherov is on fire with 17 points (3 goals, 14 assists) during a seven-game point streak.
  • Brayden Point added 15 points (4 goals, 11 assists) during his current five-game streak.

The Lightning return home riding a wave of confidence and will look to take advantage of a tired Columbus squad.

Blue Jackets’ Road Woes: A Rough Back-to-Back

The Blue Jackets enter this matchup on the heels of consecutive tough losses.

On Saturday, Columbus fell 4-3 in overtime to the Anaheim Ducks, then traveled to Raleigh where they were stifled by Carolina’s Dustin Tokarski on Sunday night, losing 4-1. It was Tokarski’s first NHL start since February 2023, and Columbus had no answers.

Special teams continue to be a sore spot for the Jackets. They went 0-for-5 on the power play against Carolina and surrendered a backbreaking shorthanded goal to Sebastian Aho.

The team also suffered an unfortunate loss when defenseman Jack Johnson exited the game after taking a high stick to the eye area, leaving Columbus shorthanded for the remainder of the night.

Key Players to Watch

Tampa Bay Lightning

  • Nikita Kucherov: Leading the charge with 17 points in his last seven games. Can Columbus find a way to slow him down?
  • Jake Guentzel: With goals in six straight games, Guentzel’s finishing touch has been vital for Tampa Bay.
  • Brayden Point: A consistent offensive force with points in five straight contests.

Columbus Blue Jackets

  • Kirill Marchenko: Leading the Jackets with 11 goals and 18 assists this season. His chemistry with Adam Fantilli and Dmitri Voronkov could be key.
  • Zach Werenski: The dynamic defenseman has 31 points (10 goals, 21 assists) in 31 games and continues to be a spark for the offense.
  • Dmitri Voronkov: Scored his eighth goal against Carolina and has been a consistent contributor.

What to Expect

The Blue Jackets face a significant challenge against a rested and confident Tampa Bay team. Columbus has struggled on special teams and will need to be sharper against the Lightning, who outscored their opponents 18-8 during the road trip.

Tampa Bay will look to take advantage of a tired Columbus squad that is playing its third game in four nights. With their top scorers in form, the Bolts are poised to capitalize on home ice and continue their push up the standings.

The Bottom Line

Tuesday night’s matchup offers Tampa Bay an opportunity to build on recent success and start their home-heavy stretch on a high note. For Columbus, it’s about bouncing back, tightening up defensively, and finding a way to steal points against a high-powered Lightning squad.

Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM ET at Amalie Arena.

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