While the Tampa Bay Lightning continue to move up the Eastern Conference standings, their captain Victor Hedman keeps checking off milestones. The Lightning and their hulking defenseman will finish a two-game homestand Saturday night against the sizzling Detroit Red Wings in the opener of four matchups between the Atlantic Division foes.

Following a road back-to-back against the Philadelphia Flyers and New Jersey Devils on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, the defending Stanley Cup champions will return to South Florida to host the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday and Anaheim Ducks on Saturday. “It’s an unusual schedule this year,” head coach Paul Maurice said.

The Ducks were coming off of one of their poorest offensive performances of the 2024-25 season on Tuesday with a 3-0 loss to the Washington Capitals. The Lightning came into this game after recently seeing their four-game point streak snapped on Tuesday when they lost 6-2 to the Boston Bruins.

The Lightning were a tired team Thursday night against the Ducks. Yes, they were back home. But after returning from Boston Wednesday following a three-game, four-day road trip — part of a 16-game gauntlet (10 on the road) in January — they were a weary group.

Since beating the Lightning 4-1 on Jan 5., the Ducks have gone 1-3-1, scoring just 5 goals in total on their roadtrip. Jon Cooper confirmed that Ryan McDonagh will play tonight, although he was not present at Morning Skate.

The Anaheim Ducks and Tampa Bay Lightning faced off for the second time in two weeks last night when they battled for 65 minutes plus a shootout at Amalie Arena in Tampa.