Lightning up next

By EDUARDO A. ENCINA, Times Staff Writer
Published November 3, 2007

Tonight: Lightning vs. Thrashers

When/where: 7:30, St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa

TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM.

Injuries: Tampa Bay - Center Ryan Craig (back) is out. Thrashers - Goaltender Kari Lehtonen (groin) and center Steve Rucchin (concussion) are out.

Key stats: The Lightning won its first meeting with the Thrashers 5-2 on Oct. 6 at the Forum and has won six of its last eight against Atlanta on home ice. ... Marty St. Louis had four goals and 10 assists against the Thrashers last year and had an assist in the first meeting between the teams. ... Both Lightning goaltenders have done well against Atlanta. Johan Holmqvist is 3-1-1 career and last season he had a 2.19 goals against average and a .929 save percentage. Marc Denis was 3-1 with a 1.70 GAA. ... Vinny Prospal's nine goals are among the league leaders, but he hasn't scored in three games. ... The Lightning was outscored 13-2 on its three-game New York swing. ... The Thrashers, who started 0-6 and fired coach Bob Hartley, are 4-3 since. Still, they haven't been the offensive team they were last season. Winger Ilya Kovalchuk leads the team with 12 points (six goals, six assists), but no other player owns more than six points.

[Last modified November 2, 2007, 20:06:37]