Game day #17: Looking for our own Lightning Strike

Thursday, November 12, 2026 – 7:00 PM EST

Nationwide Arena – Columbus, Ohio

TV: CBJHN; Radio: 97.1 FM

Tampa Bay Lightning (12-4-2, 26 points, 2nd Atlantic, 3rd East)

at

Columbus Blue Jackets (7-9-0, 14 points, 8th Metro, 16th East)

Other Bench

After the shocking revelation of a trade request from the reigning league MVP, Nikita Kucherov, speculation will follow Tampa Bay around all year. Tampa Bay is on the short list of cup contenders and a trade seems unlikely, but it’s hard to imagine the Tampa GM can let the player walk.

Kucherov is still playing like a top player in the league though, scoring a hat trick last night in Tampa’s 8-3 rout of the Sabres in Buffalo. John Carlson of long time…