Tampa Bay @ Anaheim preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 27, 2018 ) Anaheim 3, Tampa Bay 1

The Tampa Bay Lightning have allowed 24 goals in the last six games but continue to find ways to win as they open a three-game California trip against the struggling Anaheim Ducks on Monday. The NHL-best Lightning gave up five goals in the first two periods Saturday, but locked it down in the final 20 minutes and got two tallies from Adam Erne off strong battles down low to beat Montreal 6-5 - extending their point streak to 14 games (13-0-1).

“We simplified our game. … When you have a good team, it’s easy to get caught up in making the perfect play all the time,” Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman told reporters after going over 300 assists for his career Saturday (301). “You’ve got to be satisfied sometimes just by chipping out pucks and going on forechecks. We’re at our best when we play simple in our own end.” The Lightning have shown they can win up-and-down speed games the last few weeks and they will face a different challenge against three heavier teams out west, starting with an Anaheim team that frustrated them in a 3-1 victory at Tampa Bay on Nov. 27 and has points in four of the past five in the series (3-1-1). The Ducks have not been the same team lately, though, losing five straight contests after coughing up a two-goal lead in a 5-4 overtime setback against Arizona on Saturday. “Mistakes ended up in our net,” Anaheim center Adam Henrique told reporters. “You want to play with the lead. That’s where you need to tighten up defensively and make sure you don’t give up anything for free.”

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), Prime Ticket (Anaheim)

ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (30-7-2): Erne has made an impact when getting chances to play (six goals, 14 points, 25 games, 10:55 average ice time) and the team will need his physical presence with J.T. Miller (upper body) placed on injured reserve. “I’m just trying to earn my spot,” Erne told reporters Saturday after tying his career high with three points. “Each night it’s an opportunity to prove to the coaches and the management staff that I can be in the lineup each night.” Right wing Nikita Kucherov boasts a 10-game point streak, including three goals and eight assists in the past three contests to top the league with 63 points.

ABOUT THE DUCKS (19-15-6): Captain Ryan Getzlaf leads Anaheim with 20 assists and 29 points, but has been blanked the last four games, while Henrique registered a goal and an assist Saturday to move into second on the team with 22 points. Right wing Ondrej Kase scored twice Saturday and owns eight goals to go along with five assists in 12 December games - tying forward Pontus Aberg for the team lead with 11 tallies. Forward Daniel Sprong has scored four goals in 11 games since coming over in a trade with Pittsburgh, where he managed to score four times in his first 42 NHL contests.

OVERTIME

1. Anaheim G John Gibson, who was rested in the win at Tampa Bay, is 2-3-0 with a .934 save percentage all-time against the Lightning.

2. Tampa Bay captain C Steven Stamkos, who was kept off the scoresheet Saturday, boasts 15 goals in his last 14 games.

3. The Ducks scored on the power play Saturday, but are 3-of-32 with the man advantage over their last 11 contests.

PREDICTION: Lightning 4, Ducks 2