Lightning's Nikita Kucherov: Good to play Saturday
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Kucherov (illness) is good to return Saturday versus Boston, per Gabby Shirley of FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun.
Kucherov missed Thursday's 4-3 shootout loss to Philadelphia due to the illness. He has 28 goals and 92 points in 61 appearances in 2024-25. Kucherov was one of just 11 forwards on the ice for Tampa Bay during Saturday's pregame warmups, so the Lightning are expected to dress seven defensemen. Forwards Mitchell Chaffee and Cam Atkinson are expected to be healthy scratches, while Darren Raddysh is set to serve as the seventh blueliner.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Starting in Boston
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Vasilevskiy will defend the road net against Boston on Saturday, per Gabby Shirley of FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun.
Vasilevskiy has lost his last two outings, surrendering seven goals on 55 shots. He has a 30-18-3 record with four shutouts, a 2.29 GAA and a .919 save percentage through 51 appearances this season. Boston sits 25th in the league with 2.72 goals per game in 2024-25.
Moser notched an assist and two PIM in Thursday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Flyers.
Moser had been held off the scoresheet in nine straight games entering Thursday. He ended the drought with the secondary helper on Cam Atkinson's third-period tally. The 25-year-old Moser plays in a top-four role, though his ice time has been a little limited lately -- he's exceeded 20 minutes in just three of 10 contests since he returned from a lower-body injury. He's at just 11 points, 37 shots on net, 49 blocked shots, 28 hits and a plus-12 rating across 37 outings this season.
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Lightning's Yanni Gourde: Snags assist Thursday
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Gourde notched a power-play assist, two hits and a minus-2 rating in Thursday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Flyers.
This was Gourde's second helper over four contests since he was traded to the Lightning from the Kraken last Wednesday. The 33-year-old has immediately slotted in as the third-line center and looks to be connecting well with Gage Goncalves and Oliver Bjorkstrand, who was also traded from the Kraken. Gourde is up to 19 points, 46 shots on net, 73 hits and a minus-8 rating over 40 total appearances this season. He won't score a ton, but he's at no risk of losing his place in the lineup as a key checking forward.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Picks up assist in shootout loss
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Cernak notched an assist and two blocked shots in Thursday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Flyers.
Cernak set up a Zemgus Girgensons tally in the second period. The helper was Cernak's second over seven contests this month, following a February in which he had three goals and three assists over eight outings. The 27-year-old isn't going to turn into a big scoring threat from the blue line overnight, but he appears to be tapping into his offense a bit more in the second half of the campaign. He's matched his career high of 18 points as well as setting a new personal best with 15 assists through 59 outings. Cernak also has 53 shots on net, 129 hits, 87 blocked shots and a plus-24 rating this season.
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Lightning's Ryan McDonagh: Records helper Thursday
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McDonagh notched an assist, two blocked shots and two PIM in Thursday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Flyers.
Darren Raddysh was a healthy scratch Thursday, allowing McDonagh to retain a power-play role. McDonagh delivered in that spot -- he helped out on Gage Goncalves' first-period tally. This was McDonagh's second helper over four contests. The 35-year-old blueliner has 21 points, a plus-32 rating, 62 shots on net and 128 blocked shots across 65 appearances this season.
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Lightning's Zemgus Girgensons: Just second goal of season
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Girgensons scored a goal Thursday in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Flyers.
Fresh ice was his friend -- he scored from the slot just 15 seconds into the second period to push the Bolts up 2-1. Girgensons has just two goals and four assists in 65 games this season. Both goals have come in the last 11 games. His best fantasy attribute is his physicality -- Girgensons has delivered 130 hits this season.
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Lightning's Victor Hedman: Sets franchise assist record
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Hedman picked up an assist Thursday in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Flyers.
It was Hedman's 40th assist this year and his ninth 40-assist season. That moved him past Marty St. Louis and Nikita Kucherov for the most in Lightning history. Hedman has 11 goals, 40 assists and 146 shots in 62 games this season, which puts him in a tie for fifth in the NHL from the blue line.
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Lightning's Gage Goncalves: First NHL power-play goal
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Goncalves scored a goal in Thursday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Flyers.
It was his first NHL power-play goal. Goncalves has a goal in each of his last two games and his third in his last seven games. His fantasy value is limited -- he has just four goals, seven assists and 40 shots in 43 games this season.
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Lightning's Cam Atkinson: Gets goal against former team
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Atkinson scored a goal in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Flyers on Thursday.
Atkinson tied the game 3-3 early in the third period with a shot from the inside edge of the right face-off circle. It was his first game in Philly since the Flyers bought out the final season of his contract last June. He had 78 points, including 36 goals, in 143 games with the Flyers. Atkinson was called up Wednesday from the AHL. He has four goals and five assists in 38 games with the Bolts this year.
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Lightning's Jonas Johansson: Struggles continue
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Johansson made 26 saves through overtime and three saves in the shootout in a 4-3 SO loss to Philadelphia.
Bobby Brink was his kryptonite -- the young Flyer had two goals. And the Bolts had a defensive breakdown on the Flyers' third goal that left Johansson swimming. The netminder continues to struggle this season. He's 3-4-1 in his last eight starts and 7-5-2 overall. His 3.12 GAA and .896 save percentage are uninspiring. Johansson isn't a reliable fantasy option.
Kucherov (illness) will miss Thursday's clash against Philadelphia, per Gabby Shirley of FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun.
Kucherov has 28 goals and 92 points in 61 appearances in 2024-25. His absence will likely result in Nick Paul moving up to the top line to play alongside Jake Guentzel and Brayden Point. The Lightning will also switch from dressing 11 forwards to 12, so Cam Atkinson and Mitchell Chaffee are set to draw into the lineup after they were each a healthy scratch Tuesday. Meanwhile, Darren Raddysh will shift to press box because the Lightning are utilizing six blueliners instead of their previous seven.
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Lightning's Jonas Johansson: Set to start Thursday
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Johansson will protect the road goal versus the Flyers on Thursday, Gabby Shirley of FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun reports.
It's a simple spot start for Johansson against a weaker opponent, allowing Andrei Vasilevskiy to rest after he started the previous three games, losing two of them. Johansson's last appearance was a 31-save performance in a 6-2 win over the Blue Jackets on March 4. The 29-year-old will face the Flyers, who have scored just eight goals during their five-game losing streak.
Kucherov (illness) will be a game-time decision versus Philadelphia on Thursday, Gabby Shirley of FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun reports.
Kucherov left Tuesday's tilt in Carolina after the second period due to his illness and was a no-show at practice Thursday. Kucherov has 28 goals and 64 helpers over 61 appearances this season. Should Kucherov remain out of the lineup, look for Zemgus Girgensons to enter the lineup.
Although Atkinson was sent to AHL Syracuse on March 5, he didn't end up playing for the minor-league club before being recalled. The 35-year-old has three goals and eight points in 37 appearances with Tampa Bay in 2024-25. He might draw into the lineup Thursday versus Philadelphia if Nikita Kucherov (undisclosed) is unavailable.
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Lightning's J.J. Moser: No points since return
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Moser was held off the scoresheet for the ninth straight game in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Hurricanes.
Since his 27-game absence due to a lower-body injury, Moser has been quiet all around. He's picked up nine shots on net, eight hits, nine blocked shots and a minus-1 rating since rejoining the lineup Feb. 23 versus the Kraken. The 25-year-old blueliner is still seeing a shutdown role in the top four, so his offense should eventually come around a bit thanks to his significant ice time. He's at 10 points, 37 shots on net, 48 blocked shots, 27 hits and a plus-12 rating while averaging 19:39 of ice time over 36 appearances.
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Lightning's Gage Goncalves: Third goal of season
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Goncalves scored a goal Tuesday in a 4-1 loss to the Hurricanes on Tuesday.
Goncalves cut the score to 3-1 early in the third period with a goal from above the hash marks. It was his third goal of the season. Goncalves is skating on the third line with newcomers Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand. It's a great opportunity for the winger to grow his game and gain experience. But it won't likely make him fantasy relevant, at least this season. Goncalves has three goals, seven hits, 42 hits, 12 blocks and 39 shots in 42 games this season.
