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Vasilevskiy leads the Lightning onto the ice for warmups.
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Tampa Bay Lightning News
Goalie Start
Vasilevskiy will start the Lightning's season opener on Friday.
When the 2016-17 season started, Vasilevskiy was the Lightning No.2 behind Ben Bishop. Following Bishop’s midseason trade to Los Angeles, Vasilevskiy was tied for the NHL lead in wins (12), ninth in SV% (.930) and 16th in GAA (2.27). Entering 2017-18 the Lightning are among the favourites in the Atlantic Division and if Vasilevskiy gets close to 60 starts, he has No.1 fantasy netminder upside.
Girgensons could open the season on the Sabres’ top line.
Girgensons had a massive drop-off in production during the Dan Bylsma era, but it looks like he’ll get a fresh start with Phil Housley behind the bench. Girgensons has spent the first few days of training camp on the first line with Ryan O’Reilly and Kyle Okposo, which showcases the new regime’s belief in him. In 2014-15, while playing over 19 minutes per night, Girgensons had 15 goals and 15 assists (30 points) in 61 games—that’s a 20-20 pace over 82 games. He’s got the tools for be a top-6 forward and it looks like the Sabres will give him every chance possible to get his career back on-track.
The Lightning have signed Yanni Gourde to a two-year extension worth $2.0M ($1.0M AAV).
Gourde, 25, had eight points (6G / 2A) in 20 games with the Lightning this season and had 48 points (22G / 26A) in 56 games while with the Syracuse Crunch (AHL). Gourde’s new deal is a one-way deal, so the undersized winger will likely start the year in Tampa Bay.
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Vasilevskiy is in the starter's crease at the morning skate.
McDonagh (undisclosed) will not play Wednesday in Washington.
Bjorkstrand (upper-body) will be back in the Blue Jackets' lineup on Tuesday.
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Guentzel (concussion) is "highly probable" to play on Thursday.
Kucherov (illness) will not play Thursday vs. the Red Wings.
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Vasilevskiy will start Thursday vs. the Red Wings.
Vasilevskiy surrendered four goals on 29 shots in the Lightning’s overtime win over the Blackhawks on Monday. He has won his last two starts while stopping 54 of 59 shots (.915 SV%). One of those wins came against the Red Wings, who he will face again tonight—he is 2-0-0 with a 1.08 GAA and .962 SV% against Detroit this season.