"The final two games of the Lightning's four-game homestand — and perhaps its upcoming three-game road trip — will go a long way in determining if the team buys or sells at the Feb. 27 trade deadline, GM Steve Yzerman said.

"Depending on how many points we get out of it and we see what else happens around the league, we'll get a better indication," he said Thursday.

The league, Yzerman said, is in a feeling-out pattern as teams wait to see which will make playoff runs (buyers) and which won't (sellers). Eight teams had scouts credentialed for Thursday's game with the Jets, including the Penguins, who reserved seats for pro scout Andre Savard and director of pro scouting Derek Clancy.

There have been plenty of rumors about whom the Lightning might be willing to move, with D Pavel Kubina, LW Ryan Malone and C Dominic Moore most mentioned. Kubina has been linked to the Rangers and Flames, Malone to the Kings (with the speculated return being G Jonathan Bernier) and Moore to the Penguins and Senators.

They have heard the chatter.

"It's always like that in February," said Kubina, who along with Moore is a potential unrestricted free agent. "It's something you can't control. You can't worry about it." Said Malone, "It's just people talking. It's just the way the business is, so I don't think twice about it."

Malone has a no-move clause, Kubina a limited no-trade clause. Both said they have not been approached about a trade."