Tampa Bay Lightning News

Sabourin is an undrafted 33-year-old forward with eight points (2G / 6A) in 47 career NHL games. He spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, where he scored 25 points (10G / 15A) in 68 games with the San Jose Barracuda.

The Lightning will hand Vasilevskiy his fifth start of the young season when they host the Blackhawks on Thursday. The former Vezina Trophy winner has endured a tough start to his 2025-26 campaign, going winless with an .886 SV% across his first four starts, although he did look more like his regular self in his most recent outing. Vasilevskiy stopped 29 of the 31 shots in a 2-1 overtime loss in Detroit on Friday. Luckily for Vasilevskiy, he draws a great matchup on Thursday as the Lightning enter action at -300 on the money line.

Sabourin is an undrafted 33-year-old forward with eight points (2G / 6A) in 47 career NHL games. He spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, where he scored 25 points (10G / 15A) in 68 games with the San Jose Barracuda.

Kucherov has missed Tampa Bay's previous two games due to an illness, but he will likely draw back into the lineup on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The NHL's Art Ross Trophy winner from a season ago is yet to find his stride in 2025-26, recording three points (2G / 1A) and a -8 plus/minus through four games.

James has enjoyed an electric start in Syracuse (AHL) with five points in four games played and earned himself his first career promotion to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. The 23-year-old forward is a former sixth-round pick (173rd overall) and will make his NHL debut after spending the last four seasons at the University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA).

Sogaard was recalled by Ottawa last week, sending Leevi Merilainen to Belleville (AHL) for some increased playing time. After two games in the AHL, Merilainen is returning to Ottawa, sending Sogaard back to Belleville.

James has enjoyed an electric start in Syracuse (AHL) with five points in four games played and earned himself his first career promotion to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. The 23-year-old forward is a former sixth-round pick (173rd overall) and will be hopeful to make his NHL debut after spending the last four seasons at the University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA).

Callahan made his NHL debut last season, scoring one goal in 17 games with Boston. The 26-year-old defenseman has primarily been an AHL player, but could be due for a more prominent NHL role this season if the injury to Jordan Harris (undisclosed) proves to significant.

Girgensons suffered an undisclosed injury in Tampa Bay's preseason finale and has been sidelined since. The 31-year-old Girgensons played all 82 games in his first season with Tampa Bay in 2024-25, tallying six points (2G / 4A).

After being a healthy scratch in consecutive games, Viel will re-enter the lineup on Monday against the Florida Panthers. The 28-year-old Viel played 11:50 time-on-ice and recorded a +2 plus/minus in his only game this season.

Geekie made his NHL debut last season, scoring 14 points (8G / 6A) in 52 games with Tampa Bay. The 21-year-old, the 11th-overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, has been assigned to Syracuse (AHL) after starting the 2025-26 campaign in the NHL, scoring one point (0G / 1A) in six games.

D'Astous is an undrafted 27-year-old defenseman that has yet to ply an NHL game. He spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season with Brynas IF Gavle (SweHL), where he scored 39 points (12G / 27A) in 49 games.