Blue Jackets Battle Lightning After Stadium Series Victory

TAMPA, Fla. — The Columbus Blue Jackets aim to extend their winning streak tonight as they face the Tampa Bay Lightning after recently triumphing in the 2025 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series.

The Blue Jackets (30-22-8) enter the game fresh off a 5-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings in the Stadium Series held Saturday at Ohio Stadium. This win marked their fourth consecutive triumph, allowing Columbus to hold onto the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

“Winning such a significant game feels great, and we want to carry that momentum into this matchup,” said Blue Jackets defenseman, who is enjoying a career season with 64 points, just two goals shy of a personal best of 20.

The Tampa Bay Lightning (35-21-4) will be looking to bounce back after their eight-game winning streak ended with a 2-1 loss against the Florida Panthers on Monday. Despite the setback, the Lightning are still positioned well in the standings and feature forward who ranks third in the NHL with 87 points, having scored 27 goals and recorded 60 assists this season.

“It’s crucial for us to find our rhythm again tonight against a strong team,” said a Lightning forward. “We know the stakes are high as the playoff race heats up.”

Around the league, other notable matchups include the Pittsburgh Penguins facing the Colorado Avalanche. This game marks the first encounter between Cole Harbour friends Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon since their time as teammates in the Canada 4 Nations victory.

Crosby currently ranks 18th in NHL history with 611 career goals, trailing only Alexander Ovechkin in active player stats. MacKinnon leads the NHL with 91 points, indicating a heated rivalry looms for this evening’s contest.

Additionally, the New Jersey Devils will try to secure a win against the Dallas Stars. The Devils (33-23-6) are missing key player Jack Hughes, who is sidelined with an upper-body injury sustained in Sunday’s loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.

With ten games on the schedule tonight, it presents an exciting slate for hockey fans, especially as teams jockey for a position in the ongoing playoff race. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET for the Blue Jackets-Lightning game, with national broadcasts available for select matchups.