This very well could just be a paper transaction as the Lightning are off until Thursday. We'll get a better sense of how they'll lineup for that game against the Wild when they return to practice on Tuesday.
With news that Erik Cernak (upper body) is day-to-day heading into the weekend, Maxwell Crozier has earned his first NHL call up Friday from Syracuse (AHL). The 23-year-old was Tampa Bay's 2019 fourth round pick (120th overall) and is only spending his first full season in the AHL this year after joining the team from Providence (NCAA) in 2022-23.
Cernak suffered an upper-body injury after taking a hit from Nathan Bastian late in the first period of Thursday's game against the New Jersey Devils. Cernak has five points (0G / 5A), 90 hits, and 62 blocks in 39 games this season.
Cernak suffered the injury after taking a hit from Nathan Bastian late in the first period. We should expect to receive an update on the injury and a possible timeline for Cernak's return following the completion of Thursday's game.
After allowing six goals on 26 shots (.769 SV%) in a 7-3 loss to the Boston Bruins, Vasilevskiy responded with a solid performance in his last outing, saving 20 of 22 shots (.909 SV%) in a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday. Despite salvaging a 6-6-0 record, Vasilevskiy has failed to record consecutive quality starts since December 4th and 6th, posting a .895 SV% in that stretch. Tampa Bay is a -150 home favourite on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils, who are without several star players, most notably Jack Hughes.
Sabourin will make his first appearance as a San Jose Shark as Kevin Labanc is the odd-man out on Tuesday. Sabourin has nine goals and four assists in 29 games with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) this season.
Vasilevskiy will get an immediate shot at redemption after suffering though one of his worst starts of the season on Saturday, surrendering six goals on just 26 shots enroute to a 7-3 defeat in Boston. Vasilevskiy is yet to fully return to form following since returning from back surgery in late November, posting an uncharacteristically poor .895 SV% and a 9-9-0 record on the season. Things won't get any easier on Tuesday as the Lightning find themselves as +110 home underdogs to the Kings.
Pelletier has been reassigned to the Calgary Wranglers of the AHL as he continues his rehabilitation from shoulder surgery. Last season he made his NHL debut, recording seven points (3G / 4A) in 24 games for the Flames.
Cernak did not play the last three games for Tampa Bay due to an upper-body injury but will return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings. Before his injury, Cernak had 13 hits and six shots on goal in his last three games.
Sabourin last played in the NHL during a seven-game stint with the Ottawa Senators in the 2021-22 season, scoring two points (0G / 2A). In 29 games with the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL this season, Sabourin has 13 points (9G / 4A) and 92 penalty minutes.
Carlile and Sean Day, both defensemen, have been reassigned to the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL, as defensemen Jack Thompson and Emil Martinsen-Lilleberg have been recalled. Carlile made his NHL debut yesterday, registering a +1 plus/minus in 11:27 time-on-ice.
Declan Carlile and Sean Day have both been reassigned to the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL, prompting the Lightning to recall Martinsen-Lilleberg and Jack Thompson. In his first season in North America, Martinsen-Lilleberg has 12 points (1G / 11A) in 31 games with Syracuse.
Carlile will get his first taste of NHL action on Thursday after spending each of the last three seasons with the Syracuse Crunch (AHL). The 23-year-old defenseman has three goals and six assists in 31 AHL games this season.
