Tampa Bay Lightning News

Hedman will miss his third straight game with an illness, which means that Luke Witkowski is expected to remain in the lineup in San Jose. Monitor his status prior to Saturday’s game in Arizona.

Vasilevskiy allowed two goals on 30 shots in the Lightning’s loss to Columbus last Friday. Ben Bishop started on Monday and Tuesday, so the Lightning will go to Vasilevskiy tonight so Bishop doesn’t play three times in four days. Vasilevskiy has gone 0-5-0 with a 4.56 GAA and .867 SV% in January, but last weeks’ performance was a big improvement on how he had been playing.

Guentzel, 22, has three goals with one assist in five games with the Penguins earlier this season. The American-born winger leads the AHL with 21 goals and his 42 points (21G / 21A) is good for second. Guentzel has been great with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and will skate with Evgeni Malkin in Monday’s game.

Vasilevskiy allowed six goals on 40 shots in the Lightning’s loss to the Penguins on Sunday. Ben Bishop started last night and his return means less games for Vasilevskiy, but he’ll go tonight because of the back-to-back. Vasilevskiy has lost five of his last six while posting a 4.07 GAA and .878 SV%.

Vasilevskiy gave up four goals on 44 shots in the Lightning’s loss in Philadelphia last night. With Bishop out, the Lightning really have no point but to stick with Vasilevskiy, who has lost three straight, while allowing an insane 14 goals on 82 shots (.853 SV%). In his first start vs. the Penguins, the 22-year-old allowed four goals on 37 shots in a 4-3 loss.

Point has missed the last four games with an upper-body injury, but could return to the lineup this afternoon in Philadelphia. Point will take warmups and his decision will be made depending on how he feels.

Vasilevskiy was shelled for five goals on 18 shots in the Lightning’s loss to the Predators on Thursday. Vasilevskiy has lost four of his last six starts while posting a brutal 3.62 GAA and .868 SV%. Vasilevskiy has struggled as the Lightning’s temporary No.1, but has gone 2-0-0 with a 1.00 GAA and .968 SV% in his first two starts against the Flyers.

Elliott allowed one goal on 18 shots in the Flames’ win over the Avalanche on Wednesday. Elliott has now won five in a row while posting a 1.80 GAA and .922 SV%. One of those wins came against the Canucks two weeks ago—he stopped 13 of 14 shots in a 4-1 victory. He makes for a strong start tonight.

Elliott allowed one goal on 18 shots in the Flames’ win over the Avalanche on Wednesday. Elliott has now won five in a row while posting a 1.80 GAA and .922 SV%. One of those wins came against the Canucks two weeks ago—he stopped 13 of 14 shots in a 4-1 victory. He makes for a strong start tonight.

Vasilevskiy allowed five goals on 33 shots in the Lightning’s loss to the Jets on Tuesday. With Ben Bishop still out, it remains Vasilevskiy’s net even though he has posted a 2.86 GAA and .898 SV% in seven games since Bishop was hurt. Tonight he faces Nashville on home-ice, where he has gone 7-2-2 with a 2.50 GAA and .917 SV% this season.

Elliott allowed two goals on 29 shots in the Flames’ win over the Coyotes last Saturday. Elliott will start for the fourth time in five games and comes in on a four-game winning streak while posting a 2.00 GAA and .918 SV%. Tonight he will face the Avalanche for the second time in a week—he stopped 25 of 28 shots in a 6-3 win in Colorado last Tuesday.

Gourde, 25, failed to record a point in either game during his call-up, so he returns to Syracuse where he has 10 goals and 16 assists (26 points) in 29 games this season.

Vasilevskiy allowed one goal on 27 shots in the Lightning’s win over the Hurricanes last Saturday. Vasilevskiy has four wins in his last six appearances while posting a 2.47 GAA and .909 SV%. Tonight he will take on the Jets on home-ice—the 22-year old is 7-1-2 with a 2.25 GAA and .925 SV% at Amalie Arena this season.

Santini, 21, made his NHL debut last season and will make his season debut tonight vs. the Bruins. The 2013 second round pick (42nd overall) has no points in 15 games with Albany this season. Expect him to skate on the right side of Jon Merrill.

Vasilevskiy allowed three goals on 22 shots in the Lightning’s win over Montreal last night. Because he wasn’t overly busy and Ben Bishop is out, Vasilevskiy will go again tonight vs. the Maple Leafs. The 22-year-old has gone 6-1-1 with a 2.32 GAA and .922 SV% at Amalie Arena this season, but the Maple Leafs come in on a three-game winning streak.