Lightning News

EASTERN ATLANTIC

Brayden Point • C • Lightning

Brayden Point Scores Twice, Adds Helper

Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point scored twice and added a helper during their 5-1 victory over the New York Rangers on Monday evening. Point would tally the primary helper on Nikita Kucherov's opening power-play goal in the opening frame. Later in the frame, Point would score his first goal, on the power play as well. In the third period, Point would finish his evening with his second power-play goal. Over his previous nine contests, Point has been very productive on the scoresheet, scoring nine goals and adding four helpers. This is an excellent sign, as prior to this recent surge, Point tallied just one helper over his last six contests. Through 72 games this season, the 29-year-old has found the back of the net 41 times and added 38 helpers. He will look to stay hot on Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

3 days ago

Jonas Johansson • G • Lightning

Jonas Johansson Takes Over Lightning Crease Saturday

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Jonas Johansson will be the starter for Saturday's game against the Buffalo Sabres. He will make only his 16th start of the season, as Tampa Bay has leaned heavily on Andrei Vasilevskiy. Johansson holds a winning record with 8-5-2, but he has allowed over three goals per game (3.11) while registering a .898 save percentage with one shutout. Tampa Bay's No. 2 faces a weak squad on Saturday, with Buffalo sitting second from the bottom in the Eastern Conference. However, it could still be a tough night for him, as Lindy Ruff's team averages the eighth-most goals in the league (3.26).

6 days ago

Jake Guentzel • LW • Lightning

Jake Guentzel Tallies Goal, Assist In Victory

Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Jake Guentzel tallied a goal and an assist during their victory over the New York Islanders on Tuesday evening. Guentzel did all of his damage in the second frame when he found the back of the net on a wrist shot and added the secondary assist on Victor Hedman's 14th goal of the campaign. This was his third-straight two-point outing. Over his last six contests, Guentzel has enjoyed an offensive surge, scoring five goals and adding five helpers. Through 73 contests this season, Guentzel has enjoyed an impressive Tampa Bay debut. The former Stanley Cup Champion has found the back of the net 38 times, which is just two fewer than his career high, and added 36 assists. He remains a must-start player in all formats, playing in a potent Tampa Bay offense.

Apr 2

Nikita Kucherov • RW • Lightning

Nikita Kucherov Tallies Four Points In Victory

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov tallied four points during their 8-0 victory over the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday evening. Kucherov would tally the primary assist on Jake Guentzel's game-opening goal. In the second, Kucherov would find the back of the net on a backhand and added another primary helper, this time on Guentzel's power-play goal. Then in the third, Kucherov capped off his impressive evening with his third primary helper, this time on Brayden Point's 36th goal of the campaign. This outing extended his point streak to seven games. During this stretch, he has found the back of the net four times and added nine helpers. Through 68 total games, Kucherov has scored 32 goals and added 73 assists. He remains a must-start option in all leagues and a top lineup anchor in DFS.

Mar 28

Nikita Kucherov • RW • Lightning

Nikita Kucherov Tallies Point No. 100 On Tuesday

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov tallied his 100th point of the campaign during their 6-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Kucherov tallied two helpers in the opening frame. His second helper was his 100th point. In the second frame, Kucherov would find the back of the net on the power play to cap off his three-point showing. This outing also extended his current point streak to six games. This is his third-straight 100th-point campaign. Since the start of the month, Kucherov has found the back of the net four times and added 11 helpers across 12 contests. During this stretch, he has tallied five of his points on the power play and averaged 3.2 shots on goal per game. Through 67 games this season, Kucherov has scored 31 goals and added 70 helpers. He will look to stay hot on Thursday against the Utah Hockey Club.

Mar 26

Andrei Vasilevskiy • G • Lightning

Andrei Vasilevskiy Starts Against Vegas Sunday

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy will face the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday. He returns to the crease after watching Brandon Halverson take on the Utah Hockey Club in Saturday's matchup. Vasilevskiy will attempt to register a fourth consecutive win. His recent run of good results includes his fifth shutout of the season. Overall, Vasilevskiy has gone 33-18-3 this season, allowing 2.23 goals with a .920 save percentage. Sunday's victory would be one of the sweetest of the season for Vasilevskiy, as the Golden Knights don't lose very often on home ice. Bruce Cassidy's team has a 26-7-3 record at the T-Mobile Arena in 2024-25.

Mar 23

Ryan McDonagh • D • Lightning

Ryan McDonagh Exits Early On Thursday

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh (head) exited Thursday's contest early after being struck in the head by a puck. He logged 21 minutes of ice time before exiting the contest. He tallied one blocked shot and held a +2 rating. Fantasy managers should monitor his status as he could be in danger of missing Saturday's contest against the Utah Hockey Club and potentially Sunday's game against the Vegas Golden Knights. Over his previous six games entering Thursday, McDonagh tallied three points (all helpers) with eight shots on goal and 13 blocked shots. Through 68 games this season, McDonagh has found the back of the net twice and added 20 helpers with an impressive 133 blocked shots. If McDonagh were to miss time, the Lightning would likely promote a defenseman from the AHL roster.

Mar 21

Andrei Vasilevskiy • G • Lightning

Andrei Vasilevskiy Shuts The Door Against Philadelphia

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped all 21 shots he faced en route to defeating the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday evening. The shot total was quite even in this game, and Vasilevskiy was able to step up when called on. This outing extended Vasilevskiy's current win streak to two games. Before this two-game win streak, Vasilevskiy held a two-game losing streak where he had a high 3.32 GAA with a .873 save percentage. However, Vasilevskiy appears to be kickstarting another impressive stretch as he held a stellar 10-1-1 record before his two-game losing streak. During this 12-game stretch, Vasilevskiy held an impressive 1.93 GAA with a .937 save percentage. Vasilevskiy remains a must-start goaltender in all formats and a top option in DFS in all matchups.

Mar 18

Anthony Cirelli • C • Lightning

Anthony Cirelli Strikes Twice On Saturday

Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli scored two goals during their 6-2 victory over the Boston Bruins on Saturday evening. Cirelli scored his first goal in the second period on a deflection. Later in the third frame, Cirelli would score an empty-netter which put the game out of reach. This was a much-needed breakout outing for Cirelli as he entered Saturday with a seven-game scoreless drought. However, the 27-year-old tallied seven points (two goals) over his last eight contests before that skid. Cirelli continues to play on the top forward unit in Tampa Bay, providing him with high scoring chances. Through 64 total contests this season, he has tallied 47 points (22 goals). He remains a solid option in DFS in favorable matchups and a viable play in deeper formats.

Mar 16

Nikita Kucherov • RW • Lightning

Nikita Kucherov Good To Go Against Bruins

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (illness) will hop back into the lineup on Saturday against the Boston Bruins. He has been cleared for Saturday's tilt after missing Thursday's matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers due to an illness. The Russian star will re-enter the lineup on the second line, with Yanni Gourde starting the game on the first line instead of him. Kucherov will try to avoid his first three-game pointless streak of the season. Despite a couple of scoreless efforts lately, Kucherov remains the NHL's third-highest scorer with 92 points (28 goals, 64 assists) in 61 games.

Mar 15

Nikita Kucherov • RW • Lightning

Nikita Kucherov Out Against Flyers

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (illness) will not play on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. He will come out of the lineup after the team initially regarded Kucherov as a game-time decision for the contest. Defenseman Darren Raddysh will also exit the lineup, with Mitchell Chaffee and Cam Atkinson rejoining the action on the fourth line. Nick Paul will take Kucherov's place on the first line. On Thursday, Paul will have additional fantasy value, joining forces with elite forwards Brayden Point and Jake Guentzel. The 29-year-old will look to break out of an offensive slump after going scoreless in four of his past five appearances. Paul has totaled 35 points (19 goals, 16 assists) in 58 games across the season.

Mar 13

Nikita Kucherov • RW • Lightning

Nikita Kucherov A Game-Time Call On Thursday

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (illness) is a game-time decision for Thursday's contest against the Philadelphia Flyers. Kucherov exited their previous contest on Tuesday due to this illness and could be a danger of missing this evening's contest. He was also not present during Thursday's morning skate, which suggests he may face an uphill battle to be cleared. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status leading up to puck drop. Before Tuesday's contest, Kucherov tallied an impressive 13 points (three goals) over his last 10 contests. During this span, he tallied 27 shots on goal with a +5 rating. If Kucherov were to sit out this evening, fantasy managers should expect Oliver Bjorkstrand to move up to the second offensive line.

Mar 13

Nikita Kucherov • RW • Lightning

Nikita Kucherov Injured On Tuesday

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (undisclosed) missed the entire third period during their loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday evening. The team did not provide an update on his status after the game. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his status during their next practice as he could be in danger of missing their contest against the Flyers on Thursday. Before exiting early, Kucherov did not get on the scoresheet and held a -2 rating. Before this game, Kucherov tallied 10 points (three goals) over his last eight while averaging 3.25 shots on goal per game. Through 61 games this season, the 31-year-old has been one of the most consistent forwards in the league as he has tallied 92 points (28 goals) through 61 contests. He has averaged a stellar 3.6 shots on goal per game with a +13 rating. If he were to miss time, Nick Paul or Oliver Bjorkstrand could move up to the top forward line.

Mar 12

Victor Hedman • D • Lightning

Victor Hedman A Game-Time Call On Tuesday

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (lower body) is a game-time decision for Tuesday's contest against the Carolina Hurricanes. Hedman was able to participate during Tuesday's morning skate, which is a good sign he should be cleared to return to action. The 34-year-old sustained this injury during Thursday's contest. He was initially in line to return on Saturday but was a late scratch. If Hedman were to remain sidelined, Nick Perbix would remain in the starting lineup. Before Thursday's contest, Hedman tallied eight points (four goals) across his last seven contests. During this span, Hedman logged 18 blocked shots with a +6 rating. Through 60 games, the 34-year-old has tallied 50 points with 30 hits and 104 blocked shots. If he were to return, he would be a solid option in DFS formats as he sees top minutes on the Tampa blue line.

Mar 11

Jake Guentzel • LW • Lightning

Jake Guentzel Nets Hat Trick On Thursday

Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Jake Guentzel scored a hat trick during their victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday evening. Guentzel would do all of his damage in the second period. His first two goals were scored during 5-on-5 play while his final was scored on the power-play. This performance extended his scoring streak to two games as he found the back of the net twice in their previous contest. Over his past eight games, Guentzel has found the back of the net five times and added six helpers, with three of his points coming on the power-play. The 30-year-old remains a must-start option in all formats as he is on pace to set a career-high in goals surpassing his 2021 total of 40.

Mar 7

Victor Hedman • D • Lightning

Victor Hedman Exits Thursday's Contest Early

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (undisclosed) exited Thursday's contest against the Buffalo Sabres. Hedman exited the game in the opening frame and did not return. After the contest, head coach Jon Cooper said "We'll see tomorrow. It's tough to lose him anytime. hopefully, we'll see about Saturday." Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status leading up to their next contest on Saturday afternoon against the Boston Bruins. Before leaving the game, Hedman logged just under three minutes of ice time and did not get on the scoresheet. Over his previous five games, Hedman has tallied six points (three goals) with three of the points coming on the power-play. If Hedman were to miss time, Darren Raddysh will likely have an increased role on the power-play and Nick Perbix would draw into the starting lineup.

Mar 7

Oliver Bjorkstrand • RW • Lightning

Lightning Acquire Oliver Bjorkstrand

The Tampa Bay Lightning have acquired right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand from the Seattle Kraken. Bjorkstrand will head to Tampa alongside fellow forward Yanni Gourde, while the Lightning sent out two first-round draft picks (2026 and 2027), a 2025 second-round pick, and forward Michael Eyssimont. Tampa Bay also received a 2026 fifth-round pick in the deal. Bjorkstrand moved to Seattle in 2022-23 after being traded by the Columbus Blue Jackets. He recorded 141 points (56 goals, 85 assists) in 224 games with the Kraken, ranking him fifth on the franchise's all-time scoring list. This season, Bjorkstrand has scored 16 goals and 37 points in 61 games. It's possible that the Danish forward may receive less ice time with the Lightning, which could hurt his fantasy value.

Mar 5

Yanni Gourde • C • Lightning

Yanni Gourde Returns To Tampa Bay

The Seattle Kraken have traded veteran forward Yanni Gourde to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning acquired him and fellow forward Oliver Bjorkstrand in exchange for two first-round draft picks (2026 and 2027), a 2025 second-round pick, and forward Michael Eyssimont. Additionally, Tampa Bay received a 2026 fifth-round pick. The trade also involved the Detroit Red Wings, who retain part of Gourde's salary. Gourde returns to Tampa after leaving town in 2021 as a two-time Stanley Cup champion. He has just recovered from sports hernia surgery, ending a two-month absence on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild. The 33-year-old was very effective during his first stint with the Lightning, recording 80 goals and 187 points in 310 games. He has managed 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 36 outings this term.

Mar 5

Nikita Kucherov • RW • Lightning

Nikita Kucherov Leads The Way On Tuesday

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov tallied three points during their victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday evening. Kucherov would tally his first point with a goal in the opening frame. Then in the second, Kucherov would tally the primary helper on Victor Hedman's 10th strike of the season. In the final period, Kucherov would add the secondary helper on Hedman's second goal of the evening, this time on the power-play. After seeing his 10-game point streak come to an end on Monday, Kucherov was able to kickstart a new streak with a strong showing on Tuesday. During his previous 10-game point streak, the 31-year-old found the back of the net four times and added 10 helpers. He remains a must-start option in all formats. He will look to stay hot on Thursday evening against the Buffalo Sabres.

Mar 5

Andrei Vasilevskiy • G • Lightning

Andrei Vasilevskiy Blanks Calgary On Thursday

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped all 27 shots on Thursday night against the Calgary Flames. The Flames had the slight advantage in the shot total but Vasilevskiy was able to lead the way. The Flames made a strong push in the third period as they logged 11 shots but Vasilevskiy shut the door. This performance extended his winning streak to seven games. During this stretch, the 30-year-old has posted a .944 save percentage with a 1.72 GAA. Since January 7, Vasilevskiy has only lost three contests in regulation and held an impressive .936 save percentage with a 1.94 GAA. Vasilevskiy remains a must-start goaltender in all formats as he will look to extend this winning streak to eight games on Saturday in Washington.

Feb 28

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