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.
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.
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.
After failing to find the back of the net for 22 games, Atkinson was a healthy scratch for the Flyers on Thursday. In Atkinson's return on Saturday, he will look to build off the eight goals, 10 assists, 113 SOG, 14 PIMs and a -9 plus/minus he has amassed across 37 games before the scratch.
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.
Vasilevskiy will be hoping to snap a personal three-game losing streak when he tends the twine for the Lightning on Thursday. The 2018-19 Vezina Trophy winner has endured a rocky season since returning from injury, posting a .900 SV% and a 2.94 GAA across 16 appearances. He's been particularly poor of late, allowing 11 goals on just 79 shots (.861 SV%) across that three-game slide. Despite his struggles, he's a decent bet to get back into the win column on Thursday with the Lightning being -125 favourites in Minnesota.
It has been 22 games since Atkinson found the back of the net and he will take a breather Thursday as a healthy scratch vs. Columbus. The 34-year-old right-winger will be replaced by Rhett Gardner, who is making his Flyers debut. When Atkinson does return he will look to build off the eight goals, 10 assists, 113 SOG, 14 PIMs and a -9 plus/minus he has amassed across 37 games prior to the scratch.
Cernak played only 6:39 time-on-ice on New Year's Eve, did not play the first game of 2024, and will not miss his second-straight game on Thursday. Before his injury, Cernak had 13 hits and six shots on goal in his last three games.
On Thursday, Carlile was recalled from the Syracuse Crunch, where has nine points (3G / 6A) in 31 games this season. The undrafted defenseman was recalled alongside Sean Day and will hope to make his NHL debut while Mikhail Sergachev remains out of the lineup for the next several games.
Sheary will draw back into the Lightning lineup on Tuesday after a hand injury forced him to miss Sunday's game against the Canadiens. Sheary is expected to rotate in on the third line with Alex Barre-Boulet as the Lightning are rolling with unconventional lineup on Tuesday, consisting of five defensemen and 13 forwards.
Vasilevskiy had the night off on New Year's Eve but will return to the crease for the Lightning for his 10th start in their last 11 games. Vasilevskiy has allowed eight goals on 52 shots (.846 SV%) in his last two games (2-0-0) but was tremendous in his previous nine (7-2-0), posting a stellar .925 SV%. Tampa Bay is a +122 road underdog against the Winnipeg Jets, who have points in eight straight games (6-0-2).
