After a dreadful loss to the Blackhawks earlier this week, the Lightning defeated a solid Kings team by a score of 3-0.

A generation ago, it felt like the best hope a short guy had of thriving in the NHL was in the crease. Today, the dynamic has largely flipped. Ryan Dixon takes a look at each team’s undersized players in this week’s Power Rankings.

There’s no doubt the Lightning need better scoring depth from their forward group. Their top six have put up big numbers. In fact, Tampa Bay remains the only team in the NHL with four 20-goal scorers.

The Blackhawks, in return for Hagel, got two first-round picks (2023 and 2024), and two players (Boris Katchouk and Taylor Raddysh). The 2023 first-round pick ended up turning into Oliver Moore. As for 2024, they used that first to move up two spots with the New York Islanders and they selected Sacha Boisvert.

Chicago rookie Landon Slaggert gave Chicago their first lead of the night on a one-time shot from the top of the left faceoff circle. A Chicago shot missed the net wide but bounced around the front of the net to a waiting Ryan Donato, who extended the Blackhawks’ lead from the left side of the goal.

The Colorado Avalanche trading star Mikko Rantanen signifies a change in their team-building approach from front-loading their squad to improving their depth.

Landon Slaggert’s offensive game isn’t all that nuanced. To the Chicago Blackhawks forward, scoring goals is pretty much black-and-white. Or, better yet, blue. “Just getting to the blue paint,” he said hours before he was set to make his NHL season debut Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

All indications are the Lightning are among the NHL’s best. Yet they could use a hot streak on the current homestand.

After a brutal schedule of games in the month of January, the Lightning are back home at Amalie Arena for the foreseeable future ahead of the 4 Nations break. They'll open their five-game homestand with a matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks who they faced just last week.

The NHL takes center stage tonight, as the league rolls out a thrilling eight-game schedule. I’m heading the DFS route to get some skin in the game, and below I’ve listed the nine-man lineup that I’ve locked in for tonight’s

If proximity leads to familiarity, the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning should be getting to know each other pretty well.

THROUGH GAMES OF THURSDAY, JAN. 30, 2025