Music: {allcanada} LIGHTNING (19-17-4) at OILERS (17-21-3)

Thursday, January 7, 2016

{allcanada} LIGHTNING (19-17-4) at OILERS (17-21-3)

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Friday, January 8, 2016

9:00 PM ET

LIGHTNING (19-17-4) at OILERS (17-21-3)

TV: SUN, SNW

Season series: The Edmonton Oilers and Tampa Bay Lightning each won their home game last season by a 3-2 score. Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored the winning goal with 3:25 remaining at Rexall Place on Oct. 20, 2014. Lightning forward Ondrej Palat scored twice in the third period to rally Tampa Bay at Amalie Arena on Jan. 15, 2015.

Lightning team scope: Forward Ryan Callahan, who left with a lower-body injury in the second period against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday, took part in line rushes at practice Thursday and coach Jon Cooper told the Tampa Bay Times he should be able to play. Forward Vladislav Namestnikov was promoted to the top line alongside Steven Stamkos and Valtteri Filppula, the latter of whom has a four-game point streak (one goal, four assists). Defenseman Anton Stralman has points in four straight (one goal, four assists). The Lightning lost 3-1 to the Flames to begin a four-game road trip. "When we play to our strengths, we're a good team in this League," Stamkos told the Times. "When we don't -- when we stand around, don't execute, can't make a pass -- you're a below-average team, and it shows."

Oilers team scope: Edmonton is looking for its third straight win at Rexall Place following a seven-game home winning streak earlier this season. "We just seem more comfortable," forward Taylor Hall told the Oilers website after practice Thursday. "It seems like we start games a lot better. We don't wait for the other team to come in here and dictate how the game's going to go, we just kind of go and play." Forward Matt Hendricks missed practice Wednesday but it wasn't injury-related and he was back on the ice Thursday. Injured forwards Connor McDavid (collarbone) and Nail Yakupov (ankle) skated on a line with Jujhar Khaira. Yakupov, who hasn't played since Nov. 25, will travel on Edmonton's upcoming road trip and is expected back in the lineup prior to the All-Star break, coach Todd McLellan said.