Tampa Bay will host the Vancouver Canucks at 4 p.m. Saturday at Benchmark International Arena with Dennis Hildeby making his second start of the season.
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The Tampa Bay Lightning return to home ice Saturday for a 4 p.m. puck drop against the Vancouver Canucks at Benchmark International Arena.
Dennis Hildeby will make his second start in net for Tampa Bay after appearing in his first outing against Minnesota on Oct. 8.
The Lightning will also use an 11-forward, seven-defenceman lineup.
Charle-Edouard D’Astous and Gage Goncalves are back in the lineup after being healthy scratches in the last game, while Jeffrey Viel and Max Crozier will sit out.
Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said the team’s early-season roster competition has been shaped by having 23 players available when only 20 can play, adding, “This year's different,” and “We've never carried 23. We've never had the ability to do so, but I'd rather have them than not have players.”
Cooper said the challenge is part of the process, explaining, “Competition is created because we have 23 good players and only 20 can play, so that's where it's created, but you want that for your guys. It can be frustrating, I'm sure for guys that don't get to play every night, but you want guys driving for spots.”
He also said he does not have a set timeline for continuing with the 11-forward, seven-defenceman lineup, noting that results will matter, “When you’re winning, you know it’s harder at times to change,” and “It’ll be about how we’re playing too, that will factor into it.”
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