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Can Tampa Bay Lightning Overcome Seattle Kraken's Home Ice Advantage?

As the Tampa Bay Lightning gear up to face the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena, fans are eagerly anticipating a clash that promises to be both thrilling and strategic. The upcoming game, scheduled for December 14th, is set against the backdrop of recent performances by both teams that provide insights into what can be expected on game night.


Dec 9, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86, second from left), celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Seattle Kraken during overtime at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Recent Trends and Performance


The Lightning have shown a mixed bag of results in their recent outings. In their last game against the Edmonton Oilers, despite a strong defensive effort marked by 23 saves from Andrei Vasilevskiy, they fell short with a final score reflecting a narrow loss. This outcome was preceded by an impressive victory over the Vancouver Canucks where Tampa Bay's offense came alive, netting four goals and showcasing their power play capabilities.


Analyzing these performances reveals key trends for Tampa Bay: their ability to leverage power plays and even-strength situations effectively but struggling slightly in faceoff win percentages. Against the Canucks, their power play was particularly lethal, converting opportunities into two goals which underscored their special teams' potential impact on game outcomes.


Dec 9, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) celebrates with center Brayden Point (21) after scoring a goal against the Seattle Kraken during the first period at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Looking Ahead: Strategies and Expectations


As they prepare to take on the Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena—a venue known for its loud atmosphere and passionate fans—the Lightning will need to capitalize on every opportunity. Special attention will likely be given to improving faceoff strategies and maintaining discipline to avoid penalties that could give Seattle advantageous power plays.


The venue itself may pose challenges with its energetic crowd potentially boosting the Kraken's morale. However, Tampa Bay's recent road performance suggests resilience and an ability to adapt under pressure which will be crucial in overcoming home ice advantage held by Seattle.


Dec 9, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn (29) reacts following a 4-3 overtime loss against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

For fans planning to catch this exciting matchup, it is scheduled for December 14th at 10:00 PM ET. The game can be watched live on ESPN+, KHN TV, KONG TV, or FDSSUN depending on your location.


In anticipation of what promises to be an electrifying encounter between these two competitive teams, sharing thoughts and predictions becomes part of the pre-game excitement. Share this article across social networks as we count down to puck drop!

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