Tampa Bay Lightning News

Cernak has not played since suffering an upper-body injury on Sunday, missing two games, but should be ready to return to the lineup on Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 28-year-old Slovak defenseman is averaging 17:57 time-on-ice, recording seven points (1G / 6A), 77 blocks, and 81 hits in 43 games this season.

Santini drew into Tampa Bay's lineup earlier this week, but with Darren Raddysh (personal) returning to the lineup, he will head back to the AHL. The 31-year-old Santini has played 10 games with Tampa Bay this season, averaging 11:20 time-on-ice and scoring one assist.

Sabourin will re-enter the Lightning lineup on Thursday, slotting in for Connor Geekie. Sabourin has one goal and three assists in 17 games this season.

Geekie will take a seat on Thursday in favour of Scott Sabourin. Geekie has zero goals and two assists in 11 games this season.

The Lightning will turn to Vasilevskiy between the pipes for the 44th time this season when they host the Red Wings on Thursday. Vasilevskiy was tagged with a rare defeat in his last start, surrendering four goals on 31 shots in a 5-2 loss to the Blue Jackets on Tuesday. The Vezina Trophy favourite still boasts an impressive 29-11-3 record to go along with a .912 SV% on the season. Vasilevskiy and the Lightning enter action on Thursday at -225 on the money line.

Harkins will immediately re-enter the lineup after sitting out Sunday's game against the Blues. Frank Vatrano will sit in his place.

Vasilevskiy has battled some adversity lately, but he was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 31-year-old goalie has only two wins in five games since the Olympic break (2-3-0), both against the struggling Maple Leafs, and has a dreadful 5.17 GAA and .813 SV% in outings against other teams (0-3-0). Still, Tampa Bay enters Monday's contest as significant -235 home favourites against a Columbus Blue Jackets team that has lost four of seven games since the Olympic break (3-1-3).

After 17 seasons and one Stanley Cup victory, John Carlson was surprisingly traded by the Washington Capitals to the Anaheim Ducks before last week's trade deadline. Carlson has been nursing an injury and has not played since February 5th, but is aiming to make his Ducks' debut this weekend. The 36-year-old appeared in 1143 games with the Capitals, picking up 166 goals and 771 points while posting an impressive a +117 plus/minus. He should step right in to a top line and power play role with the Ducks and will make an excellent mentor of budding star Jackson LaCombe.

Frank Vatrano will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Harkins to re-enter the lineup against the Winnipeg Jets. The 28-year-old Harkins is averaging 10:12 time-on-ice and has six points (3G / 3A) in 36 games this season.

Goncalves has not played since suffering a lower-body injury on February 28th, but will return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 25-year-old Goncalves has been effective in mostly a middle-six role this season, averaging 12:11 time-on-ice and scoring 20 points (7G / 13A) in 54 games.

Vasilevskiy has battled some adversity lately, but he was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 31-year-old goalie has only two wins in five games since the Olympic break (2-3-0), both against the struggling Maple Leafs, and has a dreadful 5.17 GAA and .813 SV% in outings against other teams (0-3-0). Still, Tampa Bay enters Monday's contest as significant -235 home favourites against a Columbus Blue Jackets team that has lost four of seven games since the Olympic break (3-1-3).

Cernak exited Sunday's rollercoaster 8-7 loss to the Buffalo Sabres after only 6:47 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury and will remain sidelined on Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 28-year-old Slovak defenseman is averaging 17:57 time-on-ice, recording seven points (1G / 6A), 77 blocks, and 81 hits in 43 games this season.