Thursday’s nationally televised game is scheduled to begin just after 6:30 p.m. (PST) in the second half of a double header on the network. The Buffalo Sabres-Tampa Bay Lightning game, which begins at 4 p.

Thursday’s nationally televised game is scheduled to begin just after 6:30 p.m. (PST) in the second half of a double header on the network. The Buffalo Sabres-Tampa Bay Lightning game, which begins at 4 p.

A few moments after Macklin Celebrini won a faceoff in the Islanders’ zone, he controlled the puck and found defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin at the point, who fired a shot toward the net that Kovalenko got a stick on for his first goal since Jan. 4. Kovalenko had played in just seven games since that point, as he missed 14 games with an injury.

Tampa Bay's salvo came hours after Florida remained active before the 3 p.m. EST deadline Friday, acquiring goaltender Vitek Vanecek from the San Jose Sharks for 25-year-old forward Patrick Giles.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have placed forwards Cam Atkinson and Logan Brown on waivers, it was announced Tuesday. Forward Walker Duehr of the San Jose Sharks cleared after being waived on Monday.

Analyzing Thursday’s Buffalo Sabres at Tampa Bay Lightning odds and lines, with NHL expert picks, predictions and best bets.

Senators make key offensive move by acquiring forward Fabian Zetterlund from the San Jose Sharks at trade deadline