Nate Thompson is expected to play tonight, Boucher said, though the center didn't practice for what was called body maintenance.


Lightning D Marc-Andre Bergeron has two goals and six assists in a five-game points streak. … Lightning killer Thomas Vanek, who has 22 goals in 24 game against Tampa Bay, entered Friday second in the league with six goals, tied for the lead with three power-play goals and tied for second with 10 points. The left wing has points in all six of Buffalo's games and is tied for the league's longest points streak. … Tampa Bay G Mathieu Garon is 1-7-0 in eight games against the Sabres, with a 3.61 goals-against average and an .878 save percentage.