Event of the Day: Tampa Bay Lightning v Winnipeg Jets
Our event of the day 
is the NHL clash between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Winnipeg Jets at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning lead the Eastern Conference with the best record in the whole league, with 42 points from 28 games; while the Jets sit in fourth place in the Western Conference and hold the fifth best record in the entire the NHL. The Jets have suffered two successive away defeats to the Detroit Red Wings, losing 5-1, and to the Florida Panthers, losing 6-4 on Thursday. This is the fourth home match in a row for Tampa Bay and they have won the past three, all with at least a three-goal margin – the last one was a 5-2 victory against the Colorado Avalanche. The Lightning are a real force in this championship, scoring goals is certainly not an issue for them – they have 28.3% power-play efficiency and score 3.8 goals per game, which makes them the league’s best in both categories.
is the NHL clash between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Winnipeg Jets at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning lead the Eastern Conference with the best record in the whole league, with 42 points from 28 games; while the Jets sit in fourth place in the Western Conference and hold the fifth best record in the entire the NHL. The Jets have suffered two successive away defeats to the Detroit Red Wings, losing 5-1, and to the Florida Panthers, losing 6-4 on Thursday. This is the fourth home match in a row for Tampa Bay and they have won the past three, all with at least a three-goal margin – the last one was a 5-2 victory against the Colorado Avalanche. The Lightning are a real force in this championship, scoring goals is certainly not an issue for them – they have 28.3% power-play efficiency and score 3.8 goals per game, which makes them the league’s best in both categories.
Captain and centre Steven Stamkos with 41, and right winger Nikita Kucherov with 40 points, are on top of the player’s leaderboard for the season and deserve most of the credit for such a creative and deadly attack. The Jets however have an impressive offensive duo themselves, in the shape of Captain and right winger Blake Wheeler and centre Mark Scheifele, who have shared 71 points between them this season. This first meeting between the two sides this season should deliver a very exciting game on the ice of the Amalie Arena.Honourable mentions around the globe go to the European Rugby Champions Cup match between Munster and Leicester Tigers at Thomond Park in Limerick. It’s Round 3 of the group stage with Munster and the Tigers leading group 4 with six points each. At the UK Championship at the Barbican Centre in York, the snooker semi-finals begin. In cricket, England’s Tour of Australia continues with a two-day tour match at Richardson Park in Perth, against a Cricket Australia XI. New Zealand and West Indies begin the second Test match at the Seddon Park in Hamilton. At the Bobsleigh and Skeleton World Cup in Winterberg, women’s bobsleigh and 2-man bobsleigh take place. It’s day 3 of the Joburg Open at the Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club in Johannesburg, and the second day of the PGA Tour’s QBE Shootout at the Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida. The 2017 PSA World Championships in squash begin at the National Squash Centre in Manchester. In the World Rugby Sevens Series, it’s the opening day of the men’s tournament at the Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa. In the NBA, there is a duel between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Houston Rockets at the Moda Center in Portland; as well as the second Mexico City game between the Miami Heat and the Brooklyn Nets at the Mexico City Arena. There are football matches across Europe but we recommend the great clash of the Italian Serie A heavyweights, as Juventus battle Inter at the Juventus Stadium in Turin. Also, Toronto FC take on the Seattle Sounders FC in the conclusion to the MLS season, in the MLS Cup.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Fixture
Photos by NHL