{coyotes} LIGHTNING (14-5-0) at COYOTES (13-4-3)

Friday, 15 November 2013

{coyotes} LIGHTNING (14-5-0) at COYOTES (13-4-3)

The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2 - Justin Timberlake

Saturday, November 16, 2013

8:00 PM ET

LIGHTNING (14-5-0) at COYOTES (13-4-3)

TV: CW44, FS-A

Last 10: Tampa Bay 8-2-0; Phoenix 7-2-1

Season series: This is the first of two games between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Phoenix Coyotes, who haven't met since Jan. 21, 2012. The Lightning won that game 4-3.

Big story: The Lightning, who begin a four-game road trip exclusively against Pacific Division competition, look to stay perfect against the Western Conference. They are 7-0-0, including 5-0-0 on the road.

"I have no idea. We put on equipment and go out there. … I don't know why," wing Martin St. Louis said about the undefeated mark.

The Coyotes are 8-0-1 at home.

Team Scope:

Lightning: No Steven Stamkos? No problem. The Lightning have gone 2-0-0 in their star's absence, as he recovers from surgery after breaking his right tibia. Their latest win came Thursday, a 5-1 thumping of the No. 1 team in the NHL, the Anaheim Ducks.

Ben Bishop won his sixth game in a row and has been so impressive that only three teams (Ducks, Lightning and Colorado Avalanche) have more wins than his 13.

"He didn't get any work, but when we needed him, he was there," coach John Cooper said after Bishop turned aside 25 Anaheim shots.

Coyotes: Phoenix is coming off a 5-4 shootout loss against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday, in which the Coyotes allowed a season-high 52 shots. Mike Smith made 48 saves. It was the third time this season the Coyotes have allowed 50 or more shots; they allowed 51 shots to the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 5, and 50 to the Sharks on Nov 2.

"The amount of time spent in our own zone really takes its toll on you, so that's another reason there's so many shots against [Smith]," said defenseman Michael Stone, who scored twice in the loss. "We've got to work on cutting that down and taking care of the puck a little better. I think it would've helped us out a lot if we would've spent a little more time in their zone in the third period."

Phoenix plays its next three games at home against three of the top teams in the League. After the Lightning, the Coyotes host the Avalanche and Ducks.

Who's hot: Bishop is 6-0-0 in November with a 1.30 goals-against average and .956 save percentage. Valtteri Filppula has four goals and two assists in six games for the Lightning. … Coyotes forward Shane Doan has five goals in six games, and seven goals in eight games.

Injury report: The Lightning come in with five players on injured reserve: Defensemen Mattias Ohlund (knee), Brian Lee (knee) and Keith Aulie (upper body) and forwards Tom Pyatt (collarbone) and Stamkos (broken tibia). Sami Salo has missed the past two games with a lower-body injury and is questionable. … The Coyotes are without defenseman Derek Morris, who is on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. Defenseman Zbynek Michalek (lower body) missed Thursday's game.

Team Stats