Leafs-Lightning: Monday game preview

AMALIE ARENA

Puck drop: 7:30 p.m. TV: Sportsnet Ontario Radio: Sportsnet 590 The Fan

Key matchup: Steve Stamkos vs. Morgan Rielly. The Lightning captain has been uncharacteristically quiet against his hometown team, with just one goal in his past four games against them. And he’s a minus-5 against the Maple Leafs. Rielly lately is finding himself targeted for some big hits as he takes on the role of Toronto’s No. 1 defenceman. The Leafs are 11-4-4 when Rielly gets an assist.

Need to know: The Lightning hold a 3-1-0 record against the Leafs, with Andrei Vasilevskiy in net for each of those games . . . Stamkos has a fivegame points streak going (five goals, two assists) . . . Tampa is jockeying for position and fighting for home-ice in the Atlantic Division, but doing so without two key players. Stalwart defenceman Anton Stralman (fractured leg) is expected to miss the rest of the regular season and at least the first round of the playoffs . . . Right winger Nikita Kucherov, second on the Lightning with 29 goals, is day to day after suffering an apparent left foot injury blocking a shot … This is the final meeting of the season between these two teams.

Up next: Tuesday, at Panthers, 7:30 p.m., TSN4. Kevin McGran