Lightning's Nikita Kucherov: Slated to play Saturday
Rotowire
Kucherov (illness) is expected to be in Saturday's lineup versus the Hurricanes.
Kucherov was an extremely late scratch Thursday against the Kings due to the illness. He got through warmups again Saturday, and barring any late surprises, he will return to the lineup after a one-game absence. Look for Kucherov to play on the top line and first power-play unit in his return to action.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Facing Hurricanes
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Vasilevskiy will guard the home goal versus the Hurricanes on Saturday, Lightning reporter Gabby Shirley reports.
Vasilevskiy stopped 18 of 20 shots in Thursday's loss to the Kings, which was his first action since Dec. 2. The 31-year-old netminder is back to handling No. 1 duties between the pipes for the Lightning. He has a tough matchup Saturday, though the Hurricanes are on the second half of a back-to-back after dropping a 4-3 shootout loss to the Panthers on Friday.
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Lightning's Brandon Hagel: Surfaces on IR
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Hagel (upper body) was put on injured reserve Saturday, Diandra Loux of The Hockey News reports.
Hagel will miss his second straight game against Carolina on Saturday, and he won't be eligible to play versus St. Louis on Monday after landing on the IR list. It's unclear if he will be ready to return after the Christmas break. Hagel has generated 18 goals, 31 points, 95 shots on net and 25 hits through 32 appearances this season.
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Lightning's Anthony Cirelli: Playing Saturday
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Cirelli (undisclosed) will be in the lineup against Carolina on Saturday, Lightning reporter Gabby Shirley reports.
Cirelli sustained an injury in the third period of Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Kings, but he won't miss additional action. He has nine goals and 19 points in 30 games this season. He should return to a top-six role against the Hurricanes on Saturday.
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Lightning's Nikita Kucherov: Game-time decision
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Kucherov (illness) will be a game-time decision against Carolina on Saturday, per Lightning reporter Gabby Shirley.
Kucherov didn't participate in Saturday's optional morning skate after missing Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Kings. He has amassed 13 goals, 42 points and 96 shots on net through 30 appearances this season.
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Lightning's Brandon Hagel: Unavailable Saturday
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Hagel (upper body) won't play against Carolina on Saturday, Lightning reporter Gabby Shirley reports.
Hagel will miss his second straight game, and it wouldn't be surprising if he sat out Monday's matchup against St. Louis to give him some additional time to rest before the Christmas break. He has accounted for 18 goals, 31 points, 95 shots on net and 25 hits through 32 appearances this season.
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Lightning's Jakob Pelletier: Summoned from AHL
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Pelletier was recalled from AHL Syracuse on Saturday.
The Lightning could be down a couple of forwards in Saturday's game against Carolina, as Nikita Kucherov (illness), Brandon Hagel (upper body) and Antony Cirelli (undisclosed) are dealing with issues. Pelletier has amassed 31 points in 24 games at the AHL level this season, which has him tied for the league lead.
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Lightning's Jack Finley: Recalled from conditioning stint
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Finley was summoned from AHL Syracuse on Saturday.
Finley had a goal and two assists during his three-game conditioning stint with Syracuse. The 23-year-old has managed a goal and an assist in 11 games with the Lightning this season. He could return to the lineup as early as Saturday versus Carolina, as Nikita Kucherov (illness) and Brandon Hagel (upper body) are questionable.
Mercuri scored a goal and added an assist in AHL Syracuse's 5-3 win over Hartford on Friday.
Mercuri is picking up the pace with three goals and a helper over his last three games. This was his first multi-point effort as a professional, but he has just 10 points with 28 shots on net, 32 PIM and a plus-7 rating over 23 outings.
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Lightning's Oliver Bjorkstrand: Nets team's lone goal in loss
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Bjorkstrand scored a power-play goal Thursday in a 2-1 loss to the Kings.
Bjorkstrand opened the scoring in the first period when Anthony Cirelli found him open in the low spot. Bjorkstrand tried a jam play, which Anton Forsberg stopped, but the rebound was there for the taking. Bjorkstrand saw daylight five-hole, and he made no mistake. He has six points (three goals, three assists) and 11 shots in his last five games. Three of those points, including two goals, came on the power play, signaling that he could be heating up. Bjorkstrand was supposed to bring solid veteran offense to the Bolts, but he has struggled to bring that part of his game to the Sunshine State. He has just five goals, 10 assists and 58 shots this season (34 games).
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Sharp in return from injury
Rotowire
Vasilevskiy made 18 saves in a 2-1 loss to the Kings on Thursday.
This loss wasn't on Vasilevskiy -- the shot attempts were 78-33 in the Lightning's favor, but his teammates simply couldn't execute. He needs some kind of support. It was his first start after missing the last seven games with an undisclosed injury. Fantasy managers shouldn't hesitate to immediately put Vasilevskiy back into lineups.
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Lightning's Anthony Cirelli: Sustains injury Thursday
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Cirelli (undisclosed) was hurt in the third period of Thursday's game versus the Kings, and head coach Jon Cooper didn't have an update on the center's status after the contest, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports.
Cirelli was hurt on a hit by Kevin Fiala. The Lightning were already playing one short since Nikita Kucherov (illness) couldn't suit up, making the team eligible to dip into emergency recalls prior to Friday's roster freeze for the holiday break. Cirelli's status should be updated prior to Saturday's game versus the Hurricanes. He had an assist Thursday and is up to 19 points in 30 appearances.
Kucherov is a late scratch for Thursday's game against Los Angeles due to an illness.
Kucherov has 13 goals and 42 points in 30 outings this season. His illness brings Tampa Bay down to 11 healthy forwards and six healthy defensemen, so it appears the Lightning will play one skater short. Kucherov's absence might also result in Pontus Holmberg serving in a top-six capacity against the Kings.
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Lightning's Brandon Hagel: Won't play Thursday
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Hagel (upper body) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Kings, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Hagel sustained an upper-body injury during Monday's loss to the Panthers, and although he's considered day-to-day, head coach Jon Cooper indicated ahead of Thursday's matchup that the 27-year-old may not return until after the holiday break. Dominic James will enter the lineup in Hagel's absence Thursday, while the latter's final two chances to return before the break will be Saturday against the Hurricanes and Monday against the Blues.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Returning to action Thursday
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Vasilevskiy will serve as the starting netminder for Thursday's home game against the Kings, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports.
Vasilevskiy was activated off injured reserve Tuesday, and head coach Jon Cooper confirmed that the 31-year-old will return to the lineup after missing the last seven games due to his undisclosed injury. Over 19 appearances this year, Vasilevskiy has gone 11-6-2 with a 2.31 GAA and .916 save percentage.
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Lightning's Steve Santini: Returns to AHL
Rotowire
Santini was reassigned to AHL Syracuse on Thursday.
Santini has an assist in eight outings with Tampa Bay this season. The 30-year-old has also recorded five assists across 16 appearances with Syracuse.
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Lightning's Ryan McDonagh: Taken off injured reserve
Rotowire
McDonagh (undisclosed) was activated from injured reserve on Thursday, per the NHL media site.
McDonagh last played Nov. 8 and has missed the last 18 games. The 36-year-old veteran defenseman was off to a good start to the season before his injury, tallying three goals and six points in 15 games. He should enter the lineup Thursday, replacing Steve Santini.
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