MAPLE LEAFS (15-12-7) at LIGHTNING (18-15-3)
7:30 p.m. ET; TVA Sports, SUN, SNO, NHL.TV
Maple Leafs team scope
The Toronto Maple Leafs have won four of their past five games and the first three on a four-game road trip, including a 3-2 shootout victory against the Florida Panthers on Wednesday. "We're getting a bit more comfortable on the road," defenseman Morgan Rielly said after the game. "It's all part of maturing but the big thing is we have to keep doing it. We can't be too satisfied. We've got to go into Tampa [Thursday] and win and keep rolling." Toronto has played in 10 games that have went to overtime or a shootout and is 3-0-7 in those games.
Lightning team scope
The Tampa Bay Lightning will be without rookie forward Brayden Point for 4-6 weeks because of an upper-body injury, another blow to a team that's been dealing with the injury bug for much of the season. "It seems like when we taken steps to get healthier we take two steps back," coach Jon Cooper said. "[Point] was really coming into his own, hard pressed to say he hasn't been our best forward for the last 8-10 games. He's going to be missed." Point has three goals and 15 points, including four in his past five games. Forwards Vladislav Namestnikov and Cedric Paquette are also doubtful. The "Triplets Line" of Nikita Kucherov, Ondrej Palat and Tyler Johnson combined for three goals and three assists in a 4-3 overtime win against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday.
Maple Leafs projected lineup
Leo Komarov -- Nazem Kadri -- William Nylander
James van Riemsdyk -- Tyler Bozak -- Mitchell Marner
Zach Hyman -- Auston Matthews -- Connor Brown
Matt Martin -- Frederik Gauthier -- Nikita Soshnikov
Morgan Rielly -- Nikita Zaitsev
Jake Gardiner -- Connor Carrick
Scratched: Josh Leivo, Frank Corrado, Byron Froese
Injured: Martin Marincin (lower body), Ben Smith (lower body)
Lightning projected lineup
Ondrej Palat -- Tyler Johnson -- Nikita Kucherov
Brian Boyle -- Valtteri Filppula -- Jonathan Drouin
Alex Killorn -- Matthew Peca -- J.T. Brown
Michael Bournival -- Yanni Gourde -- Nikita Nesterov
Victor Hedman -- Anton Stralman
Jason Garrison -- Andrej Sustr
Slater Koekkoek -- Braydon Coburn
Scratched: Erik Condra
Injured: Ryan Callahan (lower body), Cedric Paquette (lower body), Steven Stamkos (knee injury), Ben Bishop (lower body), Brayden Point (upper body), Vladislav Namestnikov (upper body)
Status report
The Lightning recalled Gourde and Condra from Syracuse of the American Hockey League. … Nesterov played forward Wednesday and could continue in that role or be replaced by Condra in the lineup. … Bibeau is expected to get his second start for the Maple Leafs. He is 0-1 with a 2.11 goals-against-average and .929 save percentage. …Vasilevskiy will start for the Lightning. … Callahan took part in the Lightning's optional skate Thursday.
Who's hot
Johnson scored twice against the Canadiens, including the game-winner in overtime. …Matthews scored a goal against Panthers and leads the Maple Leafs with 17 goals.
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