Steven Stamkos needs 60 goals this year – Tampa needs him to score 60 goals this year. What else would they have, otherwise? Maybe it’ll make Guy Boucher look a little less Putin-ish.
Obviously, this game doesn't mean a whole lot to the Jets, outside of the opportunity to tank and get a better pick. It's an unlikely scenario, but if we lose this game, and Carolina and Minnesota win, we'll be really close to being in the lottery! My lines are going to be all sorts of wrong so bear with me…
In case you haven't already, please go and vote for the NHL's Most Interesting Name #1 vs #8 matchup.
Keys to the Game
- Take buttloads of shots. Tampa’s goaltending and overall defence has been pretty unsightly all year, so we might be able to rack up some points.
- After the whole “buttload of shots” thing, blow the lead in the 3rd. I really want to see how many different colours Claude Noel’s face can turn in one interview.
- Did I mention Noel was pretty pissed last time? He was upset about the fact that we started slow. Ironically, we’d been starting strong pretty much all year…
- Spencer Machacek, whom I will call “Spenny”, should score again. It would make me feel good. Not in Halle Berry, Monster’s Ball kinda way. Man you’re sick.
Lineups
Jets (GP 81 37-35-9 83 PTS)
Forwards
#16 Andrew Ladd — #18 Bryan Little — #26 Blake Wheeler
#9 Evander Kane — #8 Alexander Burmistrov — #46 Spencer Machacek
#28 Patrice Cormier — #80 Nik Antropov — #20 Antti Miettinen
#14 Tim Stapleton — #19 Jim Slater — #22 Chris Thorburn
Defencemen
#39 Tobias Enstrom — #33 Dustin Byfuglien
#5 Mark Stuart — #4 Zach Bogosian
#24 Grant Clitsome — #36 Mark Flood
Goaltender
#50 Chris Mason
Completely spitballin' here…I don't think we should put Pavs through any more crap, and I like Spenny.
Lightning (GP 81 37-36-8 82 PTS)
Forwards
#16 Teddy Purcell — #91 Steven Stamkos — #26 Martin St. Louis
#12 Ryan Malone — #8 Vincent Lecavalier — #19 J.T. Brown
#11 Tom Pyatt — #44 Nate Thompson — #14 Brett Connolly
#20 Tim Wallace — #34 J.T. Wyman — #18 Adam Hall
Defencemen
#77 Victor Hedman — #2 Eric Brewer
#7 Brett Clark — #15 Brian Lee
#3 Keith Aulie — #29 Brendan Mikkelson
Goaltender
#30 Dwayne Roloson
Sounds like the old man could be getting the final start of his career. Though it was an unseemly end, he's had a pretty impressive career.
Player to boo mercilessly: Stamkos, great incentive for the guy to net #60…and #s 61 and 62.
Prediction: Lightning 4, Jets 3