
Tampa Bay Lightning News

Vasilevskiy was tremendous in his previous outing, posting his second shutout of the season with a 28-save performance in a 2-0 win over the Utah Mammoth. The 31-year-old goalie has been otherworldly in recent weeks, proving why he is regularly considered one of the NHL's top goalies, boasting a dazzling 1.41 GAA and .939 SV% in his last nine games (8-0-1). Tampa Bay enters the action on Thursday as -181 home favourites against a Winnipeg Jets team that has lost four of its last six games (2-2-2).

Vasilevskiy was tremendous in his previous outing, posting his second shutout of the season with a 28-save performance in a 2-0 win over the Utah Mammoth. The 31-year-old goalie has been otherworldly in recent weeks, proving why he is regularly considered one of the NHL's top goalies, boasting a dazzling 1.41 GAA and .939 SV% in his last nine games (8-0-1). Tampa Bay enters the action on Thursday as -181 home favourites against a Winnipeg Jets team that has lost four of its last six games (2-2-2).

Hedman has had trouble staying healthy this season, missing the last 21 games, for a total of 33 games. The 34-year-old Norris Trophy winner was clearly not at his best when in the lineup this season, as evidenced by his low shot totals: averaging only 1.4 shots per game, a full shot less than the 2.4 he averaged over the previous decade. He has 12 points (0G / 12A) in 18 games this season.

McDonagh has been plagued by injuries this season, playing only 18 games, but is expected to return on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 36-year-old defenseman has eight points (4G / 4A) and is averaging 20:00 time-on-ice.


Pelletier played his second game of the season on Saturday, but will return to the Syracuse Crunch (AHL), where he has spent most of the season. The 26th-overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft has excelled with the Syracuse Crunch this season, scoring 41 points (19G / 22A) in 35 games.

Lundmark was a second-round pick of the Winnipeg Jets in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, and played his first NHL game on Saturday. The 25-year-old Swedish defenseman has five assists in 27 games with the Syracuse Crunch (AHL) this season.

The Lightning will unsurprisingly turn to Vasilevskiy between the pipes when the red-hot Mammoth come to town on Monday. Vasilevskiy picked up his third-straight victory in his last start, allowing just a single goal on 18 shots in a shootout win in Chicago on Friday. The former Vezina Trophy winner brings a 22-7-3 record and .916 SV% into Monday night's matchup, where the Lightning enter action at -160 on the money line.

Crozier did not play in Tampa Bay's previous game because of an illness, but should return to the lineup on Monday against the Utah Mammoth. The 25-year-old defenseman is averaging 15:52 time-on-ice and has 10 points (1G / 9A) in 31 games this season.

Cernak suffered an undisclosed injury in the first period of Saturday's 8-5 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets and did not return to the game. The 28-year-old Slovak defenseman has already missed 19 games this season due to injuries. He has five assists, 58 blocks, and 61 hits in 31 games this season.

Goncalves was limited to only 4:23 time-on-ice in Tampa Bay's most recent game, exiting the contest because of an undisclosed injury. The 25-year-old forward has 16 points (6G / 10A), 39 shots, and 42 hits in 46 games this season.

Douglas was a fourth-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft that made his NHL debut with Tampa Bay earlier this season. The 25-year-old forward has two assists and 75 penalty minutes in 27 games.

With Charle-Edouard D'Astous (lower body) on Injured Reserve, Tampa Bay has recalled Groshev from the Syracuse Crunch (AHL). The 24-year-old Groshev played one game with Tampa Bay earlier this season, his NHL debut, and recorded one assist in 13:03 time-on-ice ice.

D'Astous has been a surprising contributor on Tampa Bay's blueline this season, but he will miss at least a week after being placed on Injured Reserve due to a lower-body injury. The 27-year-old first-year NHLer is averaging 19:23 time-on-ice and has 17 points (3G / 14A) in 43 games.





