Tampa Bay Lightning News

Tampa Bay will likely turn to Vasilevskiy for the fifth time in five games to start the 2024-25 season. The 30-year-old former Vezina-trophy winner was stellar in his first two games (2-0-0), saving 46 of 48 shots (.958 SV%), before faltering in his last two (1-1-0), allowing eight goals on 53 shots (.849 SV%). Tampa Bay enters Monday night's contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs as +127 road underdogs. That said, Vasilevskiy has been terrific in his career against the Maple Leafs, posting a 2.50 GAA and .921 SV% in 27 outings (15-10-2).

Cam Atkinson will likely draw back into Tampa Bay's lineup on Monday night, resulting in Sheary being a healthy scratch. Sheary has played two of the last three games for Tampa Bay, recording a -1 plus/minus, four penalty minutes, and one hit.

Tampa Bay will continue to roll with Vasilevskiy in net for their third game to start the season. After a pedestrian 2023-24 campaign when he posted a 2.90 GAA and .900 SV% in 52 games (30-20-2), the former Vezina-trophy winner seems to have found his elite form early in the season, boasting a stellar 1.00 GAA and .958 SV% through two games (2-0-0). Tampa Bay enters action on Thursday as a -137 home favorite against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Cam Atkinson is expected to draw back into Tampa Bay's lineup on Thursday, resulting in Sheary being a healthy scratch. Sheary played 10:18 time-on-ice in his season debut and recorded four penalty minutes.

Tampa Bay will likely continue to roll with Vasilevskiy in net for their third game to start the season. After a pedestrian 2023-24 campaign when he posted a 2.90 GAA and .900 SV% in 52 games (30-20-2), the former Vezina-trophy winner seems to have found his elite form early in the season, boasting a stellar 1.00 GAA and .958 SV% through two games (2-0-0). Tampa Bay enters action on Thursday as a -137 home favorite against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Tampa Bay has only played one game so far this season due to a postponed contest last week and will return to Vasilevskiy, their game-one starter, on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks. Vasilevskiy is coming off the worst season of his career, posting a 2.90 GAA and .900 SV% in 52 appearances in 2023-24 (30-20-2), but was stellar in his first contest this season, saving 20 of 21 shots (.952 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The Lightning enter Tuesday's action against the Canucks as -129 home favorites.

The Lightning will unsurprisingly turn to their franchise netminder for their season opener on Friday night. Vasilevskiy was uncharacteristically mediocre in 2023-24, though an early season back injury could be to blame. He posted a .900 SV%, a 2.90 GAA, and a 30-20-2 record across 52 starts. He'll be looking to regain his Vezina caliber form this season, but he draws a tough assignment on opening night. The Lightning enter action as +125 underdogs in Carolina.

Guentzel battled some injuries over the course of the preseason and after being unable to complete practice on Monday, did not participate in practice on Tuesday. There doesn't seem to be a lot of concern around the longevity of Guentzel's absence but his offensive prowess will be sorely missed if he is unable to suit up for Tampa Bay's season opener on Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes. In 67 games in 2023-24, the 30-year-old winger had 30 goals and 77 points.

Geekie left the Lightning's bench on Wednesday during their preseason game on a legal line change for the purpose of starting an altercation after his dust-up with Florida's Josh Davies and has been suspended for one game by the NHL Player Safety Department. The 20-year-old forward is battling for one of Tampa Bay's final roster spots after being acquired during the offseason in the deal which saw Mikhail Sergachev end up in Utah.

Calgary solidified some of their offensive depth on Thursday after they re-signed former 1st-round pick (2019 - 26th overall) Jakob Pelletier to a one-year, two-way contract worth $800,000. The 23-year-old left-winger appeared in 13 games in 2023-24 and had a goal, three points, and nine SOG while averaging just 9:16 TOI/GP in a bottom-six role.

Lundmark completed his third AHL season with Manitoba in 2023-24 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension to remain with the Jets. The 23-year-old defensemen was Winnipeg's 2019 2nd round pick (51st overall) and had five goals and 17 points in 67 games with Manitoba (AHL) last season.

Moser's rights were acquired by Tampa Bay two Saturday's ago in the massive blockbuster trade which saw Mikhail Sergachev head to Utah and the 24-year-old has signed a two-year, $6.75 million contract extension ($3.375 million AAV) with the Lightning on Thursday. The left-handed defensemen finsihed his third NHL season in 2023-24 with Arizona and had five goals, 26 points, 77 SOG and 35 PIMs in 80 games played.

Lilleberg came over from Sweden last season and split his time between the AHL and NHL. During his time with the Lightning, the 23-year-old defenseman had five assists and a minus-15 rating in 37 games. Expect Lilleberg to be in a battle with Nick Perbix to be the Lightning's No.6 defenseman in 2024-25.

Hedman's eight-year deal that he signed in 2016 will come to an end after the 2024-25 season, so he re-ups at almost the same number ($8.0M AAV) through the 2028-29 season. In 2024, his age 33 season, Hedman posted the second-highest point total of his career, scoring 13 goals with 63 assists (76 points) in 78 games.

Tampa's defensive depth got a little bit deeper on Tuesday with the addition of Steven Santini on a one-year, two-way contract. The 29-year-old has 23 points (5G/18A) in 123 career NHL games since making his debut in 2015-16.

After 10 seasons in Buffalo, Zemgus Girgensons will join the Tampa Bay Lightning on a three-year deal worth $2.55 million ($850K AAV). The 30-year-old Latvian veteran has scored between 14 and 19 points in all eight of his previous seasons. In his final season in Buffalo in 2023-24, he had eight goals, 14 points and 21 PIMs while averaging 11:51 TOI/GP.

Guentzel put up outstanding numbers next to Sidney Crosby since 2019 but also excelled following his trade to Carolina last year, posting 25 points (8G / 17A) in 17 games. With Guentzel now in Tampa Bay, he could find himself on one of the most prolific lines in hockey, next to Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point. He's averaged 39 goals and 46 assists (85 points) per 82 games over the last six seasons.