The Tampa Bay Lightning will welcome the Chicago Blackhawks to Amalie Arena with a projected lineup featuring a goaltending change. Linus Soderblom is expected to start the second half of a back-to-back, stepping in after Spencer Knight recorded 24 saves in a 5-3 loss to the Florida Panthers on Wednesday. The Lightning’s roster moves continue to reflect a focus on depth and development, as the team reassigned forward Dominic James to the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League. James, who tallied two assists in six NHL games this season, will now gain additional playing time in the minors to refine his offensive contributions.
Soderblom starts back-to-back as Kane and Byram sit out for Chicago
Chicago arrives in Tampa with significant absences on the blue line and in the forward group. Defenseman Bowen Byram and veteran star Patrick Kane are both listed as injured with upper body issues, effectively ruling them out of the contest. These absences force the Blackhawks to rely on their remaining defensive core and secondary scoring options to compete against the Lightning. The injury report also flags a potential uncertainty for Tampa, as forward Darnell Nurse’s teammate or counterpart in the lower body injury list, specifically noting that a player identified as Girgensons is listed as questionable after missing Tuesday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings.
The matchup hinges on how the Lightning capitalize on their home ice advantage against a depleted Blackhawks squad. With Soderblom looking to bounce back from Knight’s recent struggles, Tampa Bay aims to secure a win to stabilize their recent form. For Chicago, the challenge lies in maintaining defensive structure without Byram and generating enough offensive pressure without Kane’s playmaking. Fans should monitor the pre-game injury report closely for any final updates on Girgensons, as his availability could shift the dynamic of the middle-six battles.
Source: NHL.com
