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Vegas Golden Knights Vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Storylines

By Andrew Steele-Davis

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 29: Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates his empty net goal with Brayden Point #21 during a 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on January 29, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 29: Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates his empty net goal with Brayden Point #21 during a 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on January 29, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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After a busy couple of days revolving around trades, the Vegas Golden Knights can concentrate on matters on the ice tonight.

The Vegas Golden Knights sent a ripple through the NHL on Wednesday after sending two second-round picks to the LA Kings for two-time Stanley Cup champion Alec Martinez.

It is likely that the Knights will also be active again in order to bolster their roster between now and the Trade Deadline on Feb. 24.

However, for now, the Golden Knights have the small task of taking on the red hot Tampa Bay Lighting tonight, who have won 11 straight.

And, on that note, let’s delve into some storylines ahead of the contest between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Tampa Bay Lightning at T-Mobile Arena.

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO – FEBRUARY 15: Jonathan Quick #32, Alec Martinez #27 and Matt Roy #3 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrate their win against the Colorado Avalanche during the 2020 NHL Stadium Series game at Falcon Stadium on February 15, 2020 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO – FEBRUARY 15: Jonathan Quick #32, Alec Martinez #27 and Matt Roy #3 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrate their win against the Colorado Avalanche during the 2020 NHL Stadium Series game at Falcon Stadium on February 15, 2020 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Storyline 1 – Enter Martinez

Without doubt, the biggest narrative surrounding tonight’s game is that of Alec Martinez’s debut for the Vegas Golden Knights.

The veteran defenseman was acquired by the LA Kings on Wednesday in exchange for a 2020 second-round pick and a second-round selection in 2021.

Martinez has two rings having won the Stanley Cup with the Kings in 2012 and again in 2014, and he is an upgrade for this blueline.

While he won’t provide much of an offensive punch, Martinez will be a solid presence in the defensive zone and he can log monster minutes on a nightly basis.

And the 32-year-old will make his Vegas Golden Knights debut tonight, and will be on a defensive pairing with Jon Merrill, according to Knights Head Coach Peter DeBoer.

It will be fascinating to see how Martinez adapts to his new surroundings, and he’s being thrown straight into the fire given the potent weapons he will be going up against.

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – JANUARY 12: Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning in action against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on January 12, 2020 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Lightning 3-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – JANUARY 12: Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning in action against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on January 12, 2020 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Lightning 3-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Storyline 2 – Point hit by the flu

If there’s such a thing as a pre-game boost then the Vegas Golden Knights have just received one because, according to Joe Smith of The Athletic, Brayden Point is out of tonight’s contest with flu.

That is a blow for Tampa who will be without their top-line center, while Point is third on the Lightning in points with 57 (21 goals, 36 assists).

Although Tampa boasts a plethora of firepower, not having Point for tonight’s game will just make a tough job that little bit easier for the Golden Knights.

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – FEBRUARY 08: Blake Coleman #20 of the New Jersey Devils celebrates his goal with teammate Damon Severson #28 in the second period against the Los Angeles Kings at Prudential Center on February 08, 2020 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – FEBRUARY 08: Blake Coleman #20 of the New Jersey Devils celebrates his goal with teammate Damon Severson #28 in the second period against the Los Angeles Kings at Prudential Center on February 08, 2020 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Storyline 3 – Pickle Juice Time

Blake Coleman, who is known for his love of pickle juice, will also make his debut tonight after being traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning by the New Jersey Devils for a 2020 first-round pick and high-end prospect Nolan Foote.

The rich just get richer as Coleman adds to the abundance of riches on the Lightning roster, which is incredibly loaded.

Coleman is a good pickup for the Bolts and he will provide an offensive punch having recorded 21 goals and 10 assists for 31 points in 57 games for the New Jersey Devils.

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – JANUARY 12: Nikita Kucherov #86 of the Tampa Bay Lightning in action against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on January 12, 2020 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Lightning 3-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – JANUARY 12: Nikita Kucherov #86 of the Tampa Bay Lightning in action against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on January 12, 2020 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Lightning 3-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Storyline 4 – Bolts Surging

After a sluggish start to the 2019-20 regular season, the Tampa Bay Lightning have really found their groove and they are red hot right now.

They have won 11 consecutive games and that is a franchise record, so the rest of the NHL should be on high alert right now.

The Lightning have been helped on this run by Nikita Kucherov who is riding a 14-game point streak, and the superstar leads the team in points with 73 (29 goals, 44 assists) in 58 games.

Tampa also have nine players with 30 or more points this year and they can kill in you a plethora of different ways, while goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has a 32-9-3 record this year with a 2.42 Goals Against Average and a .921 Save Percentage.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 17: Reilly Smith #19 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a first-period goal against the Washington Capitals during their game at T-Mobile Arena on February 17, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Capitals 3-2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 17: Reilly Smith #19 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a first-period goal against the Washington Capitals during their game at T-Mobile Arena on February 17, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Capitals 3-2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Storyline 5 – Keep the run going

Let’s not forget that the Vegas Golden Knights are on a very good run, too, having won three consecutive games on this homestand.

What makes this win streak even more impressive is some of the teams they have beaten, knocking off two Stanley Cup champions in the St. Louis Blues and the Washington Capitals before shutting out the New York Islanders.

The Golden Knights really seem to be settling into a groove and they appear to be figuring it out at just the right time.

However, they face arguably their toughest test of the year tonight in the Tampa Bay Lightning, a team who are at the peak of their powers right now.

Next. Grading the Alec Martinez trade. dark

Whatever happens, it should be a mouthwatering game of hockey at T-Mobile Arena.

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