TAMPA, FL - The Tampa Bay Lightning will look to make it two straight and reverse the emotions of a difficult five game stretch that saw the team win only once. Trailing Washington by two points in the standings, the Bolts can also get back to the top of the Southeast division with a win against the last place Ottawa Senators at the St. Pete Times forum Friday night.
The Tampa defense will be missing veteran Pavel Kubina who was suspended three games by the NHL for an elbow to the head of Chicago's Dave Bolland in the first period of Wednesday's game. Kubina was not called for a penalty on the play but was suspended following it, despite the league not suspending Zedeno Chara for his vicious hit earlier in the week. Mike Lundin returned from injury against Chicago and should be able to fill the defensive hole going forward.
Fortunately, Kubina's veteran presence may not be too greatly missed as Ottawa (24-34-9) is having a season to forget and is already 0-3 against the Bolts in their last three meetings. The match up with the senators begins a nine game stretch in which the Lightning will only face one playoff team (sixth place Montreal), a welcome reprieve from the tough schedule that saw the Bolts falter and fall out of first place in the division.
TAMPA, FL - The Tampa Bay Lightning will look to make it two straight and reverse the emotions of a difficult five game stretch that saw the team win only once. Trailing Washington by two points in the standings, the Bolts can also get back to the top of the Southeast division with a win against the last place Ottawa Senators at the St. Pete Times forum Friday night.
The Tampa defense will be missing veteran Pavel Kubina who was suspended three games by the NHL for an elbow to the head of Chicago's Dave Bolland in the first period of Wednesday's game. Kubina was not called for a penalty on the play but was suspended following it, despite the league not suspending Zedeno Chara for his vicious hit earlier in the week. Mike Lundin returned from injury against Chicago and should be able to fill the defensive hole going forward.
Fortunately, Kubina's veteran presence may not be too greatly missed as Ottawa (24-34-9) is having a season to forget and is already 0-3 against the Bolts in their last three meetings. The match up with the senators begins a nine game stretch in which the Lightning will only face one playoff team (sixth place Montreal), a welcome reprieve from the tough schedule that saw the Bolts falter and fall out of first place in the division.