Lightning Bring Their Shot Machine to Music City

Tampa Bay has been creating more than it gives up, and that is the problem facing Nashville on Saturday at Bridgestone Arena.

Over their last ten games the Lightning have generated chances worth 3.97 goals a night in expected goals (how much their looks were worth), against 2.86 allowed. They also out-attempted opponents, 63.3 shot attempts per game to 50.3. That has carried them to 8-3-1, 17 points and the East's first wild-card spot.

Nashville sits at 4-4-5 with 13 points, minus six in goal difference. Five of those losses came past regulation, so the Predators have hung around in plenty of games without closing them out. They've been out-attempted, 60.4 to 55.8 per game over their last ten.

To slow Tampa Bay, Nashville has to cut down the attempts it gives up and lean on Juuse Saros to steal a few. The Lightning's job is simpler: keep shooting, and fix a 2-3-1 road record that looks nothing like their perfect 6-0 home mark.