Tampa Bay will turn to Vasilevskiy for his second straight game in a favourable matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Vasilevskiy has allowed one goal in three of his last five outings (3-2-0), but struggled in his last contest, allowing five goals on 28 shots (.821 SV%) in a 5-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tampa Bay enters the action as a significant -332 home favourite.
Hagel scored a goal in Thursday's 7-4 win over the Montreal Canadiens but exited the game after playing 15:47 time-on-ice due to an undisclosed injury. He has six points (1G / 5A) during a four-game point streak.
Cirelli managed to record two assists before exiting Thursday's 7-4 win over the Montreal Canadiens with an undisclosed injury after playing only 8:51 of ice time. Cirelli has been producing at an impressive rate lately, with seven points (4G / 3A) in his last six games.
On the front end of a back-to-back, Tampa Bay will roll with Vasilevskiy between the pipes for the fourth straight game. Vasilevskiy has allowed three or fewer goals in four of his last five (3-2-0), but it was not enough in his last outing, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) in a 4-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Tampa Bay enters action on Wednesday as a +106 road underdog against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
On the front end of a back-to-back, Tampa Bay will roll with Vasilevskiy between the pipes for the fourth straight game. Vasilevskiy has allowed three or fewer goals in four of his last five (3-2-0), but it was not enough in his last outing, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) in a 4-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Tampa Bay enters action on Wednesday as a +106 road underdog against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Cernak was held out of the lineup on Saturday due to missing a team meeting but will return to the ice on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings. Haydn Fleury will exit the lineup, allowing Cernak to make his return.
Tampa Bay will turn to Vasilevskiy between the pipes for the 13th time in the last 14 games. Vasilevskiy has been stellar lately, allowing only one goal in three of his last four outings (3-1-0), including saving 27 of 28 shots (.964 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the New York Islanders on Saturday. Tampa Bay enters action as -184 home favourites against a Detroit Red Wings club coming off a 3-2 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers.
Johansson is battling a lower-body injury, making his status uncertain for Monday's contest against the Detroit Red Wings. That said, Johansson has only played once in the last 13 games and was unlikely to see any immediate action between the pipes.
Vasilevskiy will make his 12th start in the last 13 games on Saturday when he hosts the Islanders in Tampa Bay. Despite missing a large chunk of the early season due to a back injury, the 29-year-old machine has still posted an impressive 27-16-2 record despite his mediocre .898 SV% and 2.90 GAA.
Vasilevskiy will occupy Tampa's crease for the 11th time in the last 12 games after the rare night off in the Lightning's previous game vs. Anaheim. The 29-year-old is up to an impressive 45 games played despite missing a large chunk of the season due to a back injury and has a 26-16-2 record, 2.94 GAA and .897 SV% to show for it. He will host the Boston Bruins on Wednesday, who are one win from clinching a playoff birth and have won four of their last six games.
Hedman missed Tampa Bay's previous game due to a lower-body injury but was a full participant in the morning skate on Wednesday and is expected to return vs. Boston. The 33-year-old towering defenseman is back to his dominant offensive ways after an off-season in 2022-23, with 12 goals and 69 points in 68 games played before his injury. Hedman will return to his spot on Tampa Bay's top defensive pairing as well as their top power play.
Point missed the Lightning's previous game due to a lower-body injury but was a full participant in practice (including powerplays) and will return on Wednesday vs. Boston. The 28-year-old was on a tear prior to his injury picking up seven points (5G/2A) in his last three games to add to his impressive 80 points (41G/39A) in 70 games played on the season.
