Lightning News

EASTERN ATLANTIC
Anthony Cirelli  • C  •  Lightning

Anthony Cirelli A Game-Time Decision Saturday

Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (undisclosed) is a game-time decision for Saturday's contest against the New York Islanders. He is in danger of missing his second game of the season. Cirelli has been offensively anonymous recently, but he's had a solid campaign in general. Through 49 appearances, Cirelli has notched 19 goals and 39 points. Michael Eyssimont is set to fill in for Cirelli on Saturday if he can't play. Eyssimont has not been productive in 2024-25 and should remain off fantasy managers' radars. He has posted seven points (four goals, three assists) in 47 outings.
Yesterday   
Brandon Hagel  • LW  •  Lightning

Brandon Hagel Tallies Three Points In Victory

Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel tallied three points during their 3-0 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday evening. Hagel opened the scoring in the opening frame when he beat Los Angeles netminder David Rittich with a wrist shot. In the third, Hagel would score his second goal of the evening and add the primary assist on Anthony Cirelli's shorthanded empty-net goal. This was the 26-year-old first multi-point showing over his previous eight games. During this eight-game stretch, he tallied just three helpers. However, before that cold stretch, Hagel tallied 11 points over his last 10. Fantasy managers should continue to expect Hagel to produce near-point-per-game production, playing in the Tampa Bay top-six.
3 days ago   
Andrei Vasilevskiy  • G  •  Lightning

Andrei Vasilevskiy Viewed As Game-Time Decision On Thursday

According to Benjamin Pierce of the Tampa Bay Lightning, goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (illness) is viewed as a game-time decision on Thursday for their contest against the Los Angeles Kings. No. 2 goaltender Jonas Johansson (lower body) is also in questionable status for this game. As a result, the team recalled Matt Thompkins from the AHL to potentially get the starting nod. Over his past four contests, Vasilevskiy has posted a 2-2 record with a .938% SV and a 1.99 GAA. Thompkins has not seen NHL action this season but did appear in six games in 2023. Across this small stint, Thompkins posted a .892% SV with a 3.33 GAA. Vasilevskiy would be a top pick in DFS if he can turn the corner; if not, Thompkins would carry high risk in his first start of the season and would be best to fade in all formats.
3 days ago   
Emil Lilleberg  • D  •  Lightning

Emil Lilleberg Suspended For Two Games

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg has received a two-game suspension. The NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Lilleberg has been suspended for two games for interference against Detroit Red Wings forward J.T. Compher in Saturday's 2-0 loss. The suspension will keep Lilleberg sidelined for Tuesday's game against the Chicago Blackhawks and Thursday's tilt against the Los Angeles Kings. Lilleberg has recorded 11 assists with 80 hits in 45 appearances this season. Tampa Bay will need to call up a defenseman from the minors to replace Lilleberg on Tuesday.
6 days ago   
Nikita Kucherov  • RW  •  Lightning

Nikita Kucherov Tallies Three Power-Play Points On Friday

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov tallied a goal and two assists during their overtime victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday evening. Kucherov tallied the primary assist on Mitchell Chaffee's power-play strike in the opening frame. Later in the third, Kucherov would add another primary assist on the man advantage, this time on Jake Guentzel's goal. In overtime, Kucherov would play the hero as he scored the game-winner on the power-play. This performance extended his current point streak to 11 games. During this stretch, the 31-year-old has tallied 19 points (six goals, 13 helpers), with eight of the points coming on the power-play. He remains a must-start option in all formats and a strong lineup anchor in DFS. He will look to stay hot on Saturday evening against the Detroit Red Wings.
Jan 25   
Erik Cernak  • D  •  Lightning

Erik Cernak Out Versus Red Wings

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak (undisclosed) will not play against Detroit on Saturday. He logged just 34 seconds against Anaheim on Thursday, exiting the action with an undisclosed injury. Maxwell Crozier will enter the lineup for his season debut. The 24-year-old had his first 13 NHL career games with the Lightning last term, notching two assists with 13 shots, 11 blocks, and 16 hits. Crozier will be partnered with Ryan McDonagh on the second defensive pairing. Cernak will get his first chance to return on Monday against Toronto.
Jan 18   
Erik Cernak  • D  •  Lightning

Erik Cernak Exits Early On Thursday

According to Gabby Shirley of the Tampa Bay Lightning, defenseman Erik Cernak (undisclosed) exited early during Thursday's contest against the Anaheim Ducks. The 27-year-old logged just one shift before leaving the game. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status leading up to their next game on Saturday against the Red Wings. If Cernak is unable to play, the Lightning would have to promote a defenseman from the AHL. Through 41 games this season, Cernak has tallied ten points (all helpers) with a +11 rating, 23 penalty minutes, 92 hits, and 23 blocked shots.
Jan 17   
Ryan McDonagh  • D  •  Lightning

Ryan McDonagh Good To Go Thursday

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh (face) will play against Anaheim on Thursday. After getting hit in the face by a puck, McDonagh finished Tuesday's 6-2 loss to Boston with only 14:38 of ice time. However, he will not have to miss additional time. McDonagh is the runaway leader in blocked shots on the Lightning roster, having thrown himself in front of 84 efforts from the opposition. Through 42 outings, he has chipped in with one goal and 13 assists on the offensive end. The veteran rearguard entered the week with a season-best three-game point streak before going scoreless against the Bruins.
Jan 16   
Ryan McDonagh  • D  •  Lightning

Ryan McDonagh Exits Tuesday's Contest Early

According to Gabby Shirley of the Tampa Bay Lightning, defenseman Ryan McDonagh (face) left Tuesday's contest after taking a puck to the face. Before exiting, the defenseman logged just under 15 minutes of ice time and tallied one shot and two blocks. The 35-year-old was riding a three-game point streak entering Tuesday's contest but could not get on the scoresheet before exiting. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his status leading up to Thursday's contest against the Anaheim Ducks. If McDonagh were to miss a period, Emil Lilleberg would likely move up to the second pairing. The Lightning would have to promote a defenseman from the AHL to fill a spot in the lineup.
Jan 15   
Nikita Kucherov  • RW  •  Lightning

Nikita Kucherov Tallies Three Points In Victory

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov tallied three points during their victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday evening. Kucherov would score his first goal of the game late in the second period on a slap shot. Then in the third, Kucherov would score the eventual game-winner in the final minutes of the game. Kucherov would tack on his lone assist on Anthony Cirelli's empty-net goal which put the game out of reach. This performance extended his current point streak to five games. During this stretch, Kucherov has tallied eight points (3 goals, five helpers) and averaged 3.6 shots on goal per game. Overall, the 31-year-old has scored 20 times and tallied 42 helpers across 39 games, and he remains one of the safest plays on any DFS slate.
Jan 13   
Victor Hedman  • D  •  Lightning

Victor Hedman Departs Thursday's Game Early

According to Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times, Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (head) left Thursday's game early. The star defenseman was struck in the head by a puck in the final frame. After the injury he did not return. Following the game, head coach Jon Cooper did not provide any update on his status. Fantasy managers should continue to pay close attention to his status leading up to their next game on Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings. Before departing, the 34-year-old tallied one shot on goal with two blocks. If Hedman were to miss time, Ryan McDonagh would likely move up to the top pairing and play alongside Darren Raddysh.
Jan 3   
Jake Guentzel  • LW  •  Lightning

Jake Guentzel Considered Day-To-Day

Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Jake Guentzel (upper body) is considered day-to-day. The prolific winger exited Saturday's game against the Rangers in the third period with an upper-body injury. Guentzel was initially expected to play in Sunday's matchup versus Montreal, but he didn't hit the ice. Cam Atkinson started the contest on the first line, with Michael Eyssimont (lower body) filling the open spot in the lineup after missing Saturday's action with a minor injury. Following Sunday, Tampa Bay will be off until Thursday, giving Guentzel some good time to heal, and his absence might be limited to only one game. Guentzel has crushed it with the Lightning this season, notching 20 goals and 37 points in 33 games.
Dec 30   
Jake Guentzel  • LW  •  Lightning

Jake Guentzel Leaves Saturday's Game Early, Not Expected To Miss Time

According to Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times, Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Jake Guentzel (undisclosed) left early during Saturday's game against the Rangers but is not expected to miss any time. Head coach Jon Cooper noted that, "If we don't have to play them, we don't play them so he should be good tomorrow." Before exiting, Guentzel tallied a goal and an assist during their 6-2 victory over the New York Rangers. Guentzel scored his 20th goal of the season on the power play and tallied his assist on the man advantage as well. Over his past 11 contests, Guentzel has found the back of the net 11 times, including five times on the power play. He remains a must-start forward in all formats heading into his matchup on Sunday against the Montreal Canadiens.
Dec 29   
Jonas Johansson  • G  •  Lightning

Jonas Johansson Stops 36 Shots In Victory

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Jonas Johansson led the way against the defending Stanley Cup Champions on Monday evening. Johansson stopped all 36 shots he faced. The Lightning were heavily outshot in this contest but the No.2 netminder was able to lead them to a victory. The Lightning were able to strike three times in the opening frame which was able to Johansson a nice cushion early on. This was only his seventh appearance of the campaign as Andrei Vasilevskiy continues to see a heavy workload in the crease. Across these seven outings, the No.2 option has held a 4-1-1 record with a 3.25 GAA and a .902% SV. Johansson should only be left for deeper formats as he has very limited opportunities to draw a start.
Dec 24   
Andrei Vasilevskiy  • G  •  Lightning

Andrei Vasilevskiy Stands Tall In Thursday's Victory

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy tallied his third straight victory in Thursday evening's 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues. In this game, Vasilevskiy stopped 31 of the 32 shots he faced. Tampa Bay was heavily out-shot in this contest, but the 30-year-old was able to lead the way. Over his previous six starts, Vasilevskiy has held a 5-1 record with a strong .924 save percentage and a 2.01 goals-against average. Overall, through 25 games, he sits with a 15-9-1 record and a .911 save percentage with a 2.38 goals-against average. Fantasy managers should continue to view Vasilevskiy as a high-end goaltender, not only given his elite production, but also heavy workload. He should be expected to get the starting nod on Sunday evening when the Lightning host the Florida Panthers.
Dec 20   
Janis Moser  • D  •  Lightning

Janis Moser To Miss 8-10 Weeks With A Lower-Body Injury

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Janis Moser (lower body) is expected to miss 8-10 weeks of action. He's already been unavailable for a pair of games, and it looks like Moser will have to sit out a couple of months. The 24-year-old has enjoyed a good season among the top-four group in the Lightning defense, recording 10 points (two goals, eight assists), 28 shots, 39 hits, and 19 blocks across 27 appearances. Due to Moser's absence, Darren Raddysh has received a boost in playing time lately. He boasts similar offensive numbers, sitting on nine points (one goal, eight assists) through 21 outings, but offers much less defensively than Moser.
Dec 19   
Jake Guentzel  • LW  •  Lightning

Jake Guentzel Pushes Goal Streak To Seven Games

Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Jake Guentzel had another successful night on Tuesday against Columbus, scoring in a seventh straight game and picking up an assist in a 5-3 win. Guentzel's even-strength tally gave Tampa Bay a 3-0 lead in the second period. His seven-game goal-scoring streak is the longest by any player in the NHL this season. In fact, Alex Ovechkin is the only active player to have a goal streak this long in the first season with a team. By grabbing an assist on Brayden Point's empty-net goal on Tuesday, Guentzel reached 33 points for the season. He's notched 18 goals and 15 assists in 29 games. In addition to his goal streak, Guentzel currently boasts a three-game run of multi-point outings.
Dec 18   
Victor Hedman  • D  •  Lightning

Victor Hedman On Track To Return Tuesday

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (lower body) appears ready to rejoin the lineup for Tuesday's matchup against Columbus. Lightning insider Erik Erlendsson has reported that Hedman took part in Tuesday's morning skate and worked with the first power-play unit, which is a good indicator that he will be available for the game. The former Norris Trophy winner has been out for a couple of contests with a lower-body injury. Hedman is on track for a second consecutive 70-point campaign, sitting on four goals and 21 assists through 26 appearances. Nearly half of his points (11) have come on the power play. More could follow on Tuesday, as the Blue Jackets have one of the league's worst penalty-killing records at 72.9 percent.
Dec 17   
Nikita Kucherov  • RW  •  Lightning

Nikita Kucherov Racks Up Six Points Against Flames

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov was unstoppable on Thursday against the Calgary Flames, registering a goal and five assists. He was involved in each of the team's first four goals and finished the night with three power-play points. Jake Guentzel bagged a hat trick, and Brayden Points tallied four points while playing next to Kucherov, who became the first player in franchise history with multiple six-point efforts. Kucherov's tally of five assists matches Tampa Bay's record. Teams have naturalized Kucherov just three times all season, allowing him to rack up 14 goals and 44 points in 25 contests. He's second in the league in scoring behind Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon.
Dec 13   
Victor Hedman  • D  •  Lightning

Victor Hedman Day-To-Day With A Lower-Body Injury

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (lower body) is considered day-to-day. The former Norris Trophy winner was a late scratch for Thursday's matchup against Calgary. Hedman's role can not be underestimated on this Tampa Bay team. He's among the league's most productive defensemen offensively, with 25 points (four goals, 21 assists) in 26 outings, and ranks second on the team with 47 blocks. Steven Santini played instead of Hedman on Thursday, with the entire blue line putting in extra work. Janis Moser (undisclosed) was also lost during the contest, making things even more difficult for Tampa Bay in defense. Ryan McDonagh and Darren Raddysh soaked in the most action among the Lightning blue-liners, with the latter logging four minutes of power-play time.
Dec 13   
LEGEND