Hildeby will fill a vacant roster spot after John Tavares and Mitch Marner were both announced as late scratches for Tuesday's game due to an illness. serve as the backup for Ilya Samsonov against the Blues.
Vasilevskiy will start for the seventh time in the last eight games when the Lightning face off against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night. Vasilevskiy saved 33 of 35 shots (.943 SV%) in his last outing and has won four of his last five starts (4-1-0). That said, Vasilevskiy allowed six goals on 25 shots (.760 SV%) the last time he faced off against the Bruins and, as such, Tampa Bay is a +136 road underdog.
Martin Jones is dealing with an undisclosed injury and will not dress on Tuesday, prompting the Leafs to recall Hildeby from the Marlies (AHL). Hildeby has an impressive 2.35 GAA and .913 SV% in 24 games (12-7-4) with the Marlies.
Harkins played 5:37 time-on-ice on Saturday but was unavailable at practice on Monday after being diagnosed with a concussion and placed on Injured Reserve. Harkins has gone eight games without recording a point.
Tampa Bay returns to the ice from the All-Star break on Wednesday and will turn to Vasilevskiy between the pipes for his fifth straight start. The 29-year-old Vasilevskiy has won seven of his last eight and three in a row, his most consistent stretch of wins this season. Despite the victories, Vasilevskiy has been unsensational, allowing three goals in each of his last three games and posting a pedestrian .882 SV%. The Lightning are +112 road underdogs on Wednesday against the New York Rangers.
Cernak returned to practice earlier this week and will re-enter the lineup on Wednesday after a seven-game absence. Cernak has five points (0G / 5A), 90 hits, and 62 blocks in 39 games this season.
Tampa Bay returns to the ice from the All-Star break on Wednesday and will likely turn to Vasilevskiy between the pipes for his fifth straight start. The 29-year-old Vasilevskiy has won seven of his last eight and three in a row, his most consistent stretch of wins this season. Despite the victories, Vasilevskiy has been unsensational, allowing three goals in each of his last three games and posting a pedestrian .882 SV%. The Lightning are +112 road underdogs on Wednesday against the New York Rangers.
Cernak is nearing a return from his seven-game absence after participating at practice on Monday. Cernak has five points (0G / 5A), 90 hits, and 62 blocks in 39 games this season.
Girgensons exited the Sabres' January 24th victory against the Los Angeles Kings in the first period with an upper-body injury after playing only 1:01 time-on-ice. The 30-year-old Girgensons has four points (4G / 0A) in 31 games. Before his injury, Girgensons was seeing increased offensive deployment, including some time in the top six.
Sogaard will make his first start in three games Monday after taking over in relief for Joonas Korpisalo in the Senators' 7-2 loss to New York on Saturday. The 23-year-old towering netminder has struggled in his first three appearences this season, posting a 1-1-0 record, 4.55 GAA and .841 SV%. He will take on the Nashville Predators, who have lost three of their last four games and are 18th in the NHL in goals per game (2.98).
Sogaard will make his first start in three games Monday after taking over in relief for Joonas Korpisalo in the Senators' 7-2 loss to New York on Saturday. The 23-year-old towering netminder has struggled in his first three appearences this season, posting a 1-1-0 record, 4.55 GAA and .841 SV%. He will take on the Nashville Predators, who have lost three of their last four games and are 18th in the NHL in goals per game (2.98).
Girgensons exited Wednesday's 5-3 victory against the Los Angeles Kings in the first period with an upper-body injury after playing only 1:01 time-on-ice. The 30-year-old Girgensons has four points (4G / 0A) in 31 games. The Sabres next game is on Saturday against the San Jose Sharks but he is considered day-to-day for the time being.
Vasilevskiy has won five of his last six contests and will return to the crease for the third straight game on Thursday night. Vasilevskiy has struggled since returning from off-season back surgery in November but is amid a favourable stretch of play, allowing three or fewer goals in six straight (5-1-0), posting a serviceable .919 SV%. The Lightning has a favourable matchup as -206 home favourites against an Arizona Coyotes club that played last night, losing 6-2 to the Florida Panthers.
Merela will be the odd-man out on Tuesday as the Lightning are opting to dress seven defensemen. He has just one goal and no assists in 17 games this season.
Vasilevskiy will look to stay in form on Tuesday as the Lightning will opt to have their workhorse between the pipes when they travel to Philadelphia to take on the Flyers. After a rocky start to his 2023-24 season, Vasilevskiy has found his groove of late. The 2018-19 Vezina Trophy Winner is 4-1-0 over his last five starts, posting a .921 SV% over that span. He's in a good spot to keep things rolling on Tuesday with the Lightning being slight favourites at -115 in Philadelphia.
