Point has not played since November 3rd, missing three straight. He will miss a fourth consecutive game on Saturday but appears to be nearing a return, participating in drills at practice on Friday. Before his injury, Point was enjoying another productive campaign, scoring 13 points (8G / 5A) through 12 games.
Cernak was injured in Tampa Bay's previous game, but five days of rest between contests have given him enough time to recover and, likely, return to the lineup on Thursday. The 27-year-old Cernak is averaging 18:43 time-on-ice, has four points (0G / 4A), 19 blocks, and 21 hits in 14 games this season.
Tampa Bay is riding a season-worst four-game losing skid and will attempt to snap it on Thursday with Vasilevskiy between the pipes. The 30-year-old Vasilevskiy has been serviceable this season, albeit with an unspectacular 6-5-1 record, posting a 2.43 GAA and .910 SV%. That said, Tampa Bay enters the action on Thursday as slight -108 home underdogs against the league's best team, the Winnipeg Jets.
Defenseman Darren Raddysh will draw into the Tampa Bay Lineup on Thursday, replacing Atkinson, an indication that they will likely go with an 11-forward, seven-defenseman formation. The 35-year-old Atkinson, a 41-goal scorer in the 2018-19 season, has one point (0G / 1A) and a -7 plus/minus in his first season with Tampa Bay.
Cam Atkinson will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Raddysh to draw into the lineup, indicating that Tampa Bay will likely go with a 11-forward, seven-defensemen formation. The 28-year-old Raddysh is averaging 16:46 time-on-ice and has one assist in seven games this season.
Goncalves made his season debut with Tampa Bay last week, scoring zero points in two games. The 23-year-old Goncalves has played four NHL games in his career but spent most of his young career in the AHL, including scoring 58 points (13G / 45A) in 69 games with Syracuse last season.
Cernak left Thursday's game after blocking a shot and did not return to the game. Cernak missed practice on Saturday but the Lightning still did not have an update on his status. Lucky for Cernak, the Lightning don't play again until next Thursday, so he has plenty of time to recover.
Bjorkstrand was a healthy scratch in the Seattle's previous game, replaced by John Hayden, but will re-enter the lineup on Friday night against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 29-year-old Bjorkstrand was a Western Conference All-Star last season, scoring 59 points (20G / 39A) in 82 games. This season, Bjorkstrand has only five points (3G / 2A) in 13 games and has been held off the scoresheet in seven of the last eight.
Tampa Bay, amid a three-game losing skid, will turn to Vasilevskiy between the pipes on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 30-year-old Vasilevskiy has had an up-and-down start to the 2024-25 campaign, posting a 2.59 GAA and .903 SV% in 11 games (6-5-0). That said, Tampa Bay has a favorable matchup on Thursday, entering the action as -193 home favorites against a Philadelphia club with a -15 goal differential through 13 games (4-8-1).
Point played just 3:47 before leaving Sunday's loss in Winnipeg with a lower-body injury, and will miss a second straight game on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. Before his injury, Point was enjoying another productive campaign, scoring 13 points (8G / 5A) through 12 games. Mitchell Chaffee has been the main beneficiary, jumping into Point's usual spot on the top powerplay unit.
Tampa Bay, amid a three-game losing skid, will likely turn to Vasilevskiy between the pipes on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 30-year-old Vasilevskiy has had an up-and-down start to the 2024-25 campaign, posting a 2.59 GAA and .903 SV% in 11 games (6-5-0). That said, Tampa Bay has a favorable matchup on Thursday, entering the action as -193 home favorites against a Philadelphia club with a -15 goal differential through 13 games (4-8-1).
Vasilevskiy had the night off in Tampa Bay's previous game, a 7-4 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, but will return to the crease on Tuesday as he attempts to help his team end a two-game losing skid. The 30-year-old Vasilevskiy has been serviceable, albeit unspectacular, to start the 2024-25 campaign, posting a 2.54 GAA and .906 SV% through 10 games 6-4-0. Tampa Bay enters Tuesday's contest as -175 road favorites against a St. Louis Blues club averaging 2.6 goals per game.
John Hayden will draw into Seattle's lineup on Tuesday, replacing Bjorkstrand, who will be a healthy scratch for the first time this season. Bjorkstrand was a Western Conference All-Star last season, scoring 59 points (20G / 39A) in 82 games. This season, Bjorkstrand has only five points (3G / 2A) in 13 games and has been held off the scoresheet in seven of the last eight.
With Brayden Point sidelined due to a lower-body injury, Tampa Bay has recalled Goncalves from the Syracuse Crunch (AHL) to make his season debut with Tampa Bay. The 23-year-old Goncalves made his NHL debut last season, playing two games with Tampa Bay, but spent most of the campaign in the AHL, scoring 58 points (13G / 45A) in 69 games with Syracuse.
Point played just 3:47 before leaving Sunday's loss in Winnipeg with a lower-body injury. A timeline for his return to action is unclear but recently recalled Gage Concalves will draw into Tampa Bay's lineup in the interim. Before his injury, Point was enjoying another productive campaign, scoring 13 points (8G / 5A) through 12 games.
Vasilevskiy had the night off in Tampa Bay's previous game, a 7-4 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, but will likely turn to the crease on Tuesday as he attempts to help his team end a two-game losing skid. The 30-year-old Vasilevskiy has been serviceable, albeit unspectacular, to start the 2024-25 campaign, posting a 2.54 GAA and .906 SV% through 10 games 6-4-0. Tampa Bay enters Tuesday's contest as -175 road favorites against a St. Louis Blues club averaging 2.6 goals per game.
With Brayden Point potentially sidelined due to a lower-body injury, Tampa Bay has recalled Goncalves from the Syracuse Crunch (AHL). The 23-year-old Goncalves made his NHL debut last season, playing two games with Tampa Bay, but spent most of the campaign in the AHL, scoring 58 points (13G / 45A) in 69 games with Syracuse.
Point played just 3:47 before leaving Sunday's loss in Winnipeg with a lower-body injury. Lucky for fantasy owners, Point scored before leaving, giving him goals in four of his last five games. The team did not have an update on his status post-game but his absence would be a critical loss for the Lightning. Consider him questionable to play Tuesday in St. Louis until the team provides an update.
