Merela played 14 of 17 games for the Lightning this season, averaging 10:35 time-on-ice ice, registering 16 shots on goal, and failing to record a point. The Finnish forward played predominantly on the fourth line with Luke Glendenning and Austin Watson.
Cirelli exited the game in the second period after taking a shot off his arm and did not return. Cirelli has two goals and five assists in 17 games with the Lightning this season. We should expect to receive an update on Cirelli's injury and a possible timeline for his recovery in the coming days.
As the Tampa Bay Lightning eagerly await the return of their All-Star goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, Johansson will attempt to stop the bleeding on a miserable stretch for the team. Johansson has played very poorly in his last four outings (0-3-1), registering an ugly .846 SV% in the process. In addition to receiving less-than-ideal goaltending, the Lightning have been shut out in back-to-back games. That said, the Lightning are still -179 road favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that defeated them 5-3 exactly one week ago.
Cernak did not play on Tuesday due to an undisclosed injury that forced him to exit the team's November 11th matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes, a 4-0 loss, after playing only 9:57. The 6'4 Slovak defenceman has three points (0G / 3A), 18 blocks, and 33 hits while averaging 18:53 time-on-ice through 15 games this season.
As the Tampa Bay Lightning eagerly await the return of their All-Star goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, Johansson will attempt to stop the bleeding on a miserable stretch for the team. Johansson has played very poorly in his last four outings (0-3-1), registering an ugly .846 SV% in the process. In addition to receiving less-than-ideal goaltending, the Lightning have been shut out in back-to-back games. That said, the Lightning are still -179 road favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that defeated them 5-3 exactly one week ago.
Cernak did not play on Tuesday due to an undisclosed injury that forced him to exit the team's November 11th matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes, a 4-0 loss, after playing only 9:57. The 6'4 Slovak defenceman has three points (0G / 3A), 18 blocks, and 33 hits while averaging 18:53 time-on-ice through 15 games this season.
Kucherov was a full participant at practice Monday after missing the team's last game with an illness, and was officially listed as a game-time decision on Tuesday. As has become expected over the last several seasons, Kucherov is among the league leaders in points, ranking third with 23 (11G / 12A) in 14 games this season.
With Andrei Vasilevskiy nearing his return, Johansson's reign as the starting goalie for the Lightning seems to be coming to an end, and not a second too early, as the Swedish goaltender has struggled lately. In his last five games (1-2-2), Johansson has allowed at least four goals in each and posted an ugly .861 SV%. The Lightning are -123 favourites on Tuesday but are facing a St. Louis Blues team that has outscored their opposition 10-3 during a two-game winning streak.
Cernak left the Lightning's last game vs. Carolina after 13 shifts and 9:57 TOI due to an undisclosed injury and will not play Tuesday vs. St. Louis. The 26-year-old stay-at-home defender has three assists, 11 SOG, six PIMs and a -3 plus/minus in 15 games played prior to his injury. He will be replaced by Philippe Myers on Tampa's third defensive pairing.
Vasilevskiy seems to be on pace for his scheduled return as he is 6.5 weeks into his original 8-10 week prognosis after undergoing back surgery late in September. With their Vezina-winning backstop sidelined, the Lightning have salvaged a 6-5-4 record, primarily playing in front of journeyman goaltender Jonas Johansson.
Kucherov was a full participant at practice after missing the team's last game with an illness. As has become expected over the last several seasons, Kucherov is among the league leaders in points, ranking third with 23 (11G / 12A) in 14 games this season and could be an option to return to action on Tuesday.
Johansson will return to the crease on Thursday after watching Matt Tomkins tend the twine on Tuesday. Johansson has done an admirable job filling in for Andrei Vasilevskiy but after recording consecutive shutouts, has struggled of late, allowing at least four goals in each of his last three games (1-0-2), posting a .867 SV%. That said, the Lightning have a favourable matchup as -229 home favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that scores the third-fewest goals in the league (2.36 GF / GP).
Johansson will likely return to the crease on Thursday after watching Matt Tomkins tend the twine on Tuesday. Johansson has done an admirable job filling in for Andrei Vasilevskiy but after recording consecutive shutouts, has struggled of late, allowing at least four goals in each of his last three games (1-0-2), posting a .867 SV%. That said, the Lightning have a favourable matchup as -229 home favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that scores the third-fewest goals in the league (2.36 GF / GP).
Sheary played only one shift on Tuesday, 35 seconds, before exiting the game with an upper-body injury and subsequently being placed on the injured reserve. In 13 games with the Lightning this season, Sheary had three points (1G / 2A) and 14 shots on goal. Waltteri Merela, who has already played 10 games with Tampa Bay this season, was recalled from Syracuse (AHL).
Merela had zero points, 12 shots, and 10 hits through 10 games with the Lightning this year before being sent down to Syracuse (AHL) earlier this week. He has now been recalled as Conor Sheary suffered an upper-body injury on Tuesday and has been placed on the injured reserve.
Sheary logged just 35 seconds of ice-time on Tuesday before suffering the injury. The 31-year-old has one goal and two assists to his name through his first 12 games of the season. Look for Austin Watson to take Sheary's place in the Lightning lineup if he's unavailable for Thursday's game against Chicago.
Zach Bogosian will take Perbix's place as the Lightning do a bit of lineup rotation for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Perbix has registered three assists, 16 blocked shots, and five hits across 11 games this season.
