(Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Times Forum has been a tough place for opposing teams to visit in the early going this season.
It's been a house of horrors for the Winnipeg Jets over the past few years.
The Jets aim for the franchise's first regulation win in Tampa Bay since 2009, when they were still the Atlanta Thrashers, on Friday night. The Lightning meanwhile are looking to keep their perfect home record intact.
Fans in the Jets region can watch all of the action tonight at 6:30pm ct/7:30pm et. The game can also be heard on TSN Radio 1290 Winnipeg.
The Jets will take a victory of any kind on Friday after losing a 6-3 decision at Florida on Thursday. The clubs combined for seven goals in the third period, but five of those came off the sticks of the Panthers.
Grant Clitsome, Olli Jokinen and Tobias Enstrom posted markers for the Jets, who have allowed 10 goals over a two-game losing streak that has followed three straight wins.
Ondrej Pavelec was beaten five times on 33 shots in the setback.
"We have another game in 24 hours against one of the top teams in the East and one of the top teams in our division right now, so if we can't get up for tomorrow, we have bigger issues," Jets forward Blake Wheeler said about his team's game against Tampa Bay on Friday.
Wheeler and Evander Kane both have three goals and five assists over their last five games, while Enstrom has logged seven points in that span.
Winnipeg wraps a three-game swing on Friday.
Tampa Bay has won the first three of a five-game homestand and has a victory in all four of its games at the Forum this season. It has outscored opponents 16-7 so far on the residency and is coming off Tuesday's 5-2 triumph over the Florida Panthers.
Vincent Lecavalier, Cory Conacher, Tom Pyatt and Dana Tyrell all had a goal and an assist, while Steven Stamkos netted his fourth goal of the season in the win. He has notched 11 points through the Lightning's first six games.
Anders Lindback made 26 saves in the victory, Tampa Bay's fourth in a row overall.
Acquired in an offseason trade with Nashville, Lindback is 4-1-0 in five starts this season with a 2.80 goals against average and .914 save percentage.
"(Lindback) is showing signs of somebody that is making a difference at the right time every game," said Tampa Bay head coach Guy Boucher.
Martin St. Louis had an assist and leads the Lightning with nine helpers and 12 points on the season.
Tampa Bay last won five straight during a seven-game run from Jan. 17-Feb. 4 of last season and has won 14 of its past 17 overall against the Jets franchise.
The Lightning are also 8-0-2 in their last 10 at home versus the club since the Atlanta/Winnipeg franchise picked up a 3-1 win at Tampa on Feb. 10, 2009.
