Tampa Bay Lightning News

Victor Hedman took warmups with the team but was a last minute scratch, so Santini is a surprise addition to the lineup. It's Santini's first NHL game since playing four games with the Blues in the 2022-23 season.

Hedman took part in warmups on Thursday but was a surprise scratch when the Lightning submitted their final lineup shortly after 9:00 pm ET. Steven Santini will draw into the lineup in his place. The Lightning stated that Hedman is day-to-day with the lower-body injury.

Atkinson will take a seat on Thursday to make way for the return of Anthony Cirelli (upper-body). Atkinson has three goals and two assists in 17 games this season.

Cirelli returns to the Lightning lineup after missing Tuesday's game in Edmonton due to the lower-body injury. Cam Atkinson will be a healthy scratch in order to make room for his return. Cirelli was red hot before the injury, scoring 20 points (10G / 10A) in his last 19 games.

Tampa Bay will roll with Vasilevskiy between the pipes for a fifth straight game on Thursday against the Calgary Flames. The 30-year-old Vasilevskiy has a solid 2.38 GAA and .910 SV% in 22 games this season (12-9-1) and has allowed two or fewer goals in three straight (2-1-0), posting a .930 SV%. Tampa Bay enters Thursday's contest as -146 road favorites against a Calgary club coming off a 4-3 victory against the Nashville Predators.

Vasilevskiy will make his 22nd start of the season when the Lightning travel to Edmonton to take on the Oilers on Tuesday. Vasilevskiy is fresh off a 4-2 victory over the Canucks on Sunday where he allowed just two goals on 25 shots. The former Vezina Trophy winner owns a .910 SV% and a 12-8-1 record on the season. He will need to be at his best on Tuesday as the Lightning enter action as +130 underdogs against Connor McDavid and the Oilers.

Cirelli was injured in Sunday's game after playing only 4:37 time-on-ice, exiting in the first period with an upper-body injury. The 27-year-old Cirelli had been playing on Tampa Bay's second line with Brandon Hagel and Nick Paul, scoring 20 points (10G / 10A) in his last 19 games before his injury.

Cirelli was injured in Sunday's game after playing only 4:37 time-on-ice, exiting in the first period with an undisclosed injury. The 27-year-old Cirelli had been playing on Tampa Bay's second line with Brandon Hagel and Nick Paul, scoring 20 points (10G / 10A) in his last 19 games before his injury.

Cernak played on 12:22 time-on-ice before exiting Sunday's game early in the third period due to an undisclosed injury. The 27-year-old Slovak defenseman is averaging 18:24 time-on-ice, recording seven points (0G / 7A), 33 blocks, and 48 hits in 25 games.

Santini has 123 games of NHL experience but has exclusively been an AHL player since a four-game stint with the St. Louis Blues in the 2022-23 season. The 29-year-old defenseman has five points (2G / 3A) in 14 games with the Syracuse Crunch (AHL) this season.

Cernak played on 12:22 time-on-ice before exiting Sunday's game early in the third period due to an undisclosed injury. The 27-year-old Slovak defenseman is averaging 18:24 time-on-ice, recording seven points (0G / 7A), 33 blocks, and 48 hits in 25 games.

Cirelli was injured in Sunday's game after playing only 4:37 time-on-ice, exiting in the first period with an undisclosed injury. The 27-year-old Cirelli had been playing on Tampa Bay's second line with Brandon Hagel and Nick Paul, scoring 20 points (10G / 10A) in his last 19 games before his injury.

Vasilevskiy will start his 20th game of the season when the Lightning host the Sharks on Thursday. Vasilevskiy took the loss his last time out, allowing four goals on 28 shots in a 5-3 defeat at the hands of the Maple Leafs. The 11-year veteran owns a 10-8-1 record and a .907 SV% on the season. He's got a great chance of getting back in the win column on Thursday as the Lightning enter action as massive favourites at -260.

Guentzel left practice early on Tuesday due to an undisclosed ailment but will play on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. The 30-year-old Guentzel has been productive in his first season with Tampa Bay, scoring 22 points (10G / 12A) in 23 games.

Paul will return from a six-game absence on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. Before his injury, Paul was pacing for the best offensive season of his career with 13 points (5G / 8A) in 17 games.