Daily Faceoff is a news site with no direct affiliation to the NHL, or NHLPA

Tampa Bay Lightning News

Hildeby will start on Tuesday in Columbus.

On the back end of a back-to-back, with Joseph Woll (lower body) not ready to make his return, the Maple Leafs will turn to Hildeby for his second start of the season. The 23-year-old Hildeby played the back end of a back-to-back earlier this season and recorded a victory, posting a solid 2.02 GAA and .913 SV%. The Maple Leafs enter action on Tuesday as -192 road favorites against a Columbus Blue Jackets with a 2-3-0 record.

Dennis Hildeby
Vasilevskiy will start in Toronto on Monday.

Tampa Bay will 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).

Andrei Vasilevskiy
Vasilevskiy was the first goalie off the ice at Tampa Bay's morning skate.

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).

Andrei Vasilevskiy
Vasilevskiy will start against the Golden Knights on Thursday.

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.

Andrei Vasilevskiy
Vasilevskiy was they first goalie off the ice at Tampa Bay's morning skate.

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.

Andrei Vasilevskiy
Sogaard has been recalled from Belleville (AHL).

Sogaard's second call-up this week might indicate that Linus Ullmark (muscle strain) is not ready to return to the crease yet. The 23-year-old Sogaard was a last-minute emergency call-up on Monday and opened the contest against the Los Angeles Kings by backing up Anton Forsberg. Sogaard entered in relief of Forsberg midway through the game and allowed four goals on 17 shots (.765 SV%) but salvaged an 8-7 overtime victory.

Mads Sogaard
Sogaard has been loaned to the Belleville Senators (AHL).

Sogaard was a last-minute emergency call-up on Monday and opened the contest against the Los Angeles Kings by backing up Anton Forsberg. Sogaard entered in relief of Forsberg midway through the game and allowed four goals on 17 shots (.765 SV%) but salvaged an 8-7 overtime victory. His reassignment to Belleville (AHL) indicates that Linus Ullmark (strain) is likely nearing his return from a one-game absence.

Mads Sogaard
Vasilevskiy will start on Tuesday vs. Vancouver.

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.

Andrei Vasilevskiy
Sogaard has been recalled from Belleville (AHL) on an emergency basis.

Despite Senators head coach Travis Green referring to Linus Ullmark's absence from practice on Sunday as a "maintenance day," Sogard was recalled from the Belleville Senators (AHL) on an emergency basis. The 23-year-old Sogard was off to a terrific start with Belleville, posting a 0.92 GAA and .964 SV% after one game (1-0-0). That said, if Ullmark is unable to play, Ottawa will likely turn to Anton Forsberg between the pipes on Monday against the Los Angeles Kings.

Mads Sogaard
Vasilevskiy will start the Lightning's season opener in Carolina on Friday.

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.

Andrei Vasilevskiy
Hildeby will make his NHL debut and start on Thursday in New Jersey.

With Toronto on the back end of a back-to-back and Anthony Stolarz coming off a 1-0 loss to Montreal, Dennis Hildeby will make his NHL debut and start for Toronto on Thursday in New Jersey. The towering 6'7" netminder had a solid season as the Toronto Marlies (AHL) starter in 2023-24 with his 21-11-7 record, 2.41 GAA and .913 SV%. He will head to New Jersey to take on the undefeated (2-0-0) Devils, whose new head coach Sheldon Keefe will be looking for a revenge victory against the team that let him go during the offseason.

Dennis Hildeby
Gunetzel (undisclosed) is not practicing on Tuesday after leaving early the previous day.

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.

Jake Guentzel
Geekie has been suspended for one preseason game for leaving the players' bench on a line change for the purpose of starting an altercation.

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.

Conor Geekie