With the return of Sean Couturier (upper body), Cam Atkinson will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday in Montreal. The 34-year-old is having his worst offensive season in three years with his 13 goals, 28 points, 174 SOG and -22 plus/minus through 67 games played.
Girgensons did not play on Sunday due to an illness but is expected back in the lineup on Tuesday against the Dallas Stars. The 30-year-old Girgensons has 13 points (8G / 5A) in 59 games this season.
Cirelli managed to record two assists before exiting last Thursday's 7-4 win over the Montreal Canadiens with an undisclosed injury after playing only 8:51 of ice time. Cirelli has been producing at an impressive rate lately, with seven points (4G / 3A) in his last six games.
Tampa Bay will turn to Vasilevskiy for his second straight game in a favourable matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Vasilevskiy has allowed one goal in three of his last five outings (3-2-0), but struggled in his last contest, allowing five goals on 28 shots (.821 SV%) in a 5-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tampa Bay enters the action as a significant -332 home favourite.
Hagel scored a goal in Thursday's 7-4 win over the Montreal Canadiens but exited the game after playing 15:47 time-on-ice due to an undisclosed injury. He has six points (1G / 5A) during a four-game point streak.
Cirelli managed to record two assists before exiting Thursday's 7-4 win over the Montreal Canadiens with an undisclosed injury after playing only 8:51 of ice time. Cirelli has been producing at an impressive rate lately, with seven points (4G / 3A) in his last six games.
With Jonas Johansson sidelined due to a lower-body injury and the Lightning playing their second game in as many nights, it will be Matt Tomkins who gets the nod in Montreal on Thursday. Tomkins has made three appearances with the Lightning this season, with the most recent being a 5-3 victory on November 7th, which coincidentally was also against the Canadiens in Montreal. It is the only victory of the 29-year-old's career to date, so he will be hoping for a repeat performance on Thursday. The Lightning enter the game as -160 favourites over the Habs.
On the front end of a back-to-back, Tampa Bay will roll with Vasilevskiy between the pipes for the fourth straight game. Vasilevskiy has allowed three or fewer goals in four of his last five (3-2-0), but it was not enough in his last outing, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) in a 4-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Tampa Bay enters action on Wednesday as a +106 road underdog against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
On the front end of a back-to-back, Tampa Bay will roll with Vasilevskiy between the pipes for the fourth straight game. Vasilevskiy has allowed three or fewer goals in four of his last five (3-2-0), but it was not enough in his last outing, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) in a 4-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Tampa Bay enters action on Wednesday as a +106 road underdog against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
With Jonas Johansson sidelined due to an injury, Tampa Bay has recalled Tomkins on an emergency basis. Tomkins has spent most of the season with the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL, posting a 2.53 GAA and .904 SV% in 29 games (15-12-2).
Cernak was held out of the lineup on Saturday due to missing a team meeting but will return to the ice on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings. Haydn Fleury will exit the lineup, allowing Cernak to make his return.
Atkinson and Nicolas Deslauriers are drawing back into the lineup for the Flyers on Monday, as Bobby Brink and Denis Gurianov will be healthy scratches. Atkinson has only played one of the last seven games and zero points in his last 17.
Tampa Bay will turn to Vasilevskiy between the pipes for the 13th time in the last 14 games. Vasilevskiy has been stellar lately, allowing only one goal in three of his last four outings (3-1-0), including saving 27 of 28 shots (.964 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the New York Islanders on Saturday. Tampa Bay enters action as -184 home favourites against a Detroit Red Wings club coming off a 3-2 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers.
Johansson is battling a lower-body injury, making his status uncertain for Monday's contest against the Detroit Red Wings. That said, Johansson has only played once in the last 13 games and was unlikely to see any immediate action between the pipes.
