(Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Lightning will try for back-to-back wins tonight, when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs for a clash at St. Pete Times Forum.
It's a game you can catch as the top half of a great NHL on TSN doubleheader starting at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. The game is also available on TSNHD.
This marks the second meeting this month and also of the year between Tampa and the Maple Leafs. The Lightning recorded a 2-1 overtime victory in Toronto on November 3, giving the Bolts their sixth win in eight tries against the Leafs. However, the clubs have split the last six meetings at the Forum.
The Lightning notched a dramatic victory Sunday in Atlanta, as Steven Stamkos scored the game-winner at the 2:56 mark of overtime, lifting Tampa to the 4-3 win over the Thrashers.
On a 2-on-1 break, Martin St. Louis skated down the center and slipped a pass over to the right side where Stamkos flipped it past Ondrej Pavelec for the win.
Stamkos had an assist, Kurtis Foster had a goal and an assist while St. Louis added three helpers for the Lightning, who had dropped three of four coming into the game. Antero Niittymaki made 28 saves to improve to 14-0-0 all-time against Atlanta in his career.
"Obviously we'll take the win," said Stamkos. "We'll take two points any way we can get it. From a team perspective I thought we played pretty solid and stuck with the game plan. We got lots of shots on net and were forechecking and hard-hitting."
Ryan Malone, who also scored in Sunday's victory, had the OT game-winner against Toronto earlier this month. Malone has 10 goals and three assists in 21 career games against Toronto.
The Lightning have played their last four games without defenseman Mattias Ohlund, who is battling a foot injury. Ohlund, who leads all Tampa blueliners with six assists, is questionable for tonight.
Tonight marks the first of two straight home games for the Lightning, who will also welcome the New York Rangers on Friday. Tampa is 5-0-4 at home this year.
Toronto has recorded points in three straight games, but has two losses over that 1-0-2 span. The Maple Leafs were dealt an overtime setback when they played Monday against the visiting New York Islanders.
Josh Bailey's goal at the 4:17 mark of overtime, coupled with an outstanding performance from Dwayne Roloson, helped the Islanders take a 4-3 decision at Air Canada Centre.
Niklas Hagman, Wayne Primeau and Phil Kessel each had a goal for the Maple Leafs, who have dropped six of their last seven games. Vesa Toskala started in net but left in the second period after giving up three goals on 15 shots. Jonas Gustavsson made five stops in the loss.
The 61 shots that Toronto threw on net tied a franchise record and was also the most shots the Islanders ever gave up in a game.
Gustavsson will get the start tonight, while Toskala will not make the trip to Tampa. Toskala aggravated a groin injury on Monday, but isn't expected to be out long. Joey MacDonald was recalled from the Toronto Marlies and will serve as the backup tonight.
The Leafs also lost John Mitchell to a knee injury in Monday's loss and the forward could miss as much as six weeks. Mitchell has two goals and seven assists in 22 games this season.
Toronto is just 2-5-4 as the visiting club this year and has lost its last three road tests.