Cernak exited Tampa Bay's last outing, a 7-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, after playing only 12:31 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury. However, with five days between contests, Cernak appears to be fully healed and is expected to play on Thursday against the New York Rangers. The Slovak defenseman has nine points (1G / 8A), 139 hits, and 83 blocks in 53 games this season.
Guentzel was acquired in a trade from the Pittsburgh Penguins last week and will make his Hurricanes debut on Tuesday night after being activated from Injured Reserve. The 29-year-old Guentzel has not played since February 14th but was amid another strong campaign, with 22 goals and 30 assists (52 points) in 50 games this season. At the Hurricanes' morning skate on Tuesday, Guentzel was skating on a line with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Martin Necas.
Guentzel was acquired in a trade from the Pittsburgh Penguins last week and could make his Hurricanes debut on Tuesday night after being activated from Injured Reserve. The 29-year-old Guentzel has not played since February 14th but was amid another strong campaign, with 22 goals and 30 assists (52 points) in 50 games this season. At the Hurricanes' morning skate on Tuesday, Guentzel was skating on a line with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Martin Necas.
Lilleberg made a strong impact in his first career appearance with Tampa Bay but has been reassigned to Syracuse (AHL) after the Lightning made some deadline acquisitions. The 23-year-old Norweigan rookie will head back to the minors with three assists,17 SOG, eight PIMs and a -14 plus/minus in 23 games played with Tampa Bay.
Crozier was the odd man out of Tampa Bay's roster after their trade deadline acquisitions and will head back to Syracuse (AHL) on Friday. The 23-year-old rookie did well in his first NHL showing, with two assists, seven PIMs and a -2 plus/minus in 13 games played.
Guentzel is in the final year of a five-year deal that carries a $6.0M AAV cap-hit. The Penguins retained 25 percent of his contract, so the Hurricanes acquired him at a $4.5M AAV cap hit. Guentzel, who has been out with an upper-body injury since February 14th, has scored 22 goals with 30 assists (52 points) in 50 games this season. Over the last three seasons, Guentzel ranks 22nd in the NHL with 98 goals, so he'll provide some serious goal-scoring punch to the Hurricanes' middle-6.
Tampa Bay will turn to Vasilevskiy between the pipes for a fourth straight game on Thursday night. The Vezina-winning netminder hasn't played to expectations this season and has allowed three or more goals in seven of his last eight starts (3-4-1) but saved 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) in his last outing, a 4-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. The Lightning are -148 home favourites against a Calgary Flames squad that has recently traded two of their opening-night top-four defenders, Chris Tanev and Noah Hanifin.
Tampa Bay will likely turn to Vasilevskiy between the pipes for a fourth straight game on Thursday night. The Vezina-winning netminder hasn't played to expectations this season and has allowed three or more goals in seven of his last eight starts (3-4-1) but saved 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) in his last outing, a 4-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. The Lightning are -148 home favourites against a Calgary Flames squad that has recently traded two of their opening-night top-four defenders, Chris Tanev and Noah Hanifin.
Holmberg will take a seat on Wednesday as Noah Gregor will draw into the lineup. Holmberg has three goals and eight assists in 35 games this season.
Roelens is an undrafted 6'6 center iceman out of Quebec. The 21-year-old is in his fifth season in the QMJHL and has 62 points (25G / 37A) in 56 games with Acadie-Bathurst Titan.
Vasilevskiy will return to the crease on Thursday night for his 10th start in the last 11 games for the Lightning. Vasilevskiy has struggled immensely lately, allowing four or more goals in four of his last five outings (1-4-0), including allowing four goals on 29 shots (.862 SV%) in a 6-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday. That said, Tampa Bay enters action as a -157 home favourite against the Buffalo Sabres.
Vasilevskiy took a seat after seven straight starts for Tampa Bay's previous game vs. New Jersey but will return to the crease on Tuesday in Pennsylvania. The 29-year-old is having the worst statistical season of his historic 10-year career, with his 20-14-0 record, 2.95 GAA and .897 SV%. He will look to improve on his season numbers Tuesday as he takes on Philadelphia, who have lost four of their last five contests and have the last placed powerplay in the NHL at 13.2%.
