TAMPA (620 WDAE) -- The Tampa Bay Lightning have started the 2017-18 campaign 3-1 thanks to an unblemished record at Amalie Arena, something they'll look to continue Saturday when the St. Louis Blue (4-1-0) come to town.
The Bolts have done a good job getting the puck on net offensively, but for head coach Jon Cooper, that only helps when the defense is keeping the puck away from the net 200 feet away.
"It's the reverse, for every chance we're getting, we're giving one up and you can't live that way," We got away with it against Pittsburgh, but if we continue that we're not going to get away with it against St. Louis."
The Blues are coming off their first loss of the season, falling to the Florida Panthers 5-2 Thursday in Sunrise, and Lightning captain Steven Stamkos would like to send St. Louis out of the Sunshine State without earning any points.
"They're off to a good start this year," Stamkos said. "They're usually known as a pretty solid defensive team that doesn't give you many opportunities. We'll look to try and attack using our speed and simplify the game a little bit."
Cooper said forward Cedric Paquette, who has missed the last two games against Pittsburgh and Washington with an undisclosed injury, could return tonight, but that the team had not made a determination on whether they'd make a lineup change.
Pregame coverage on 970 WFLA is scheduled for 6:30, with faceoff set for 7:00.
Listen to pregame comments from Cooper, Stamkos, and defenseman Victor Hedman below!