Tampa Bay is hoping to welcome the talents of Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point back into their lineup on Monday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, resulting in Douglas being a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old Douglas is playing his first NHL season and has two assists in 22 games.

James is a sixth-round draft pick from the 2022 NHL Entry Draft that has been effective for Tampa Bay in his first NHL season. The 23-year-old has five points (2G / 3A) and is averaging 12:19 time-on-ice in 19 games this season.

Brzustewicz was a third-round pick, 75th overall, of the Vancouver Canucks in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old defenseman played one game with the Flames last season, his only NHL game. He has 12 points (4G / 8A) in 23 games this season with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL).

Point has not played in nearly three weeks due to an undisclosed injury, but should return to the lineup on Saturday against the New York Islanders. The 29-year-old Point has had a slow start to the 2025-26 season, with only 11 points (3G / 8A) in 21 games after finishing the previous three seasons above a point-per-game pace.

Tampa Bay is on a three-game losing skid and will be eager to welcome Kucherov back into its lineup on Monday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 32-year-old Kucherov could have a nagging injury, missing three games this season, but it has not deterred him from his offensive prowess, with 34 points (12G / 22A) in 25 games. He has especially turned it on lately, with 15 points (3G / 12A) in his last seven games.

After an abysmal start to the 2025-26 season, Wolf seems to be rounding into form, recording a shutout in two of his last eight games (4-3-1), and posting quality starts in four of his last five (3-2-0), posting a 1.40 GAA and .931 SV%. The 24-year-old runner-up for the 2024-25 Calder Trophy has 2.90 GAA and .899 SV% in 23 games this season (8-12-2). The Flames enter Monday's contest as slight -104 home underdogs against a Sabres team at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with 26 points (11-13-4).

Pastrnak has been incredibly resilient for the Bruins, playing all 82 games in the previous three seasons, but has missed five games due to an undisclosed injury. That said, he appears to be nearing a return and is likely targeting one of the three games on the Bruins' upcoming road trip. The 29-year-old elite Czech forward has 29 points (11G / 18A) in 25 games, factoring in on 37 percent of Boston's goals before his injury.

It's unclear when Andrei Vasilveskiy (undisclosed) will return to the lineup, but Johansson will continue to occupy Tampa Bay's crease in the interim. The 30-year-old Johansson has been serviceable in Vasilevskiy's absence, saving 44 of 49 shots (.898 SV%), but is 0-2-0 in the process. Johansson has a 2.85 GAA and .896 SV% in 10 games this season (5-4-0). Tampa Bay enters Monday's contest as -117 road favorites against a surging Maple Leafs team with points in four straight games (3-0-1).

Ristolainen's 2024-25 season was cut short due to a ruptured right triceps tendon. He underwest surgery and was targeting a mid-December return, which appears to still be the target after returning to practice on Monday. The 30-year-old is entering his 13th NHL season and has not completed a full 82-game season since 2015-16. Before his injury last season, he had four goals, 19 points, and 100 SOG across 63 games played.

The Jets have struggled immensely since Connor Hellebuyck (knee) has been sidelined. Eric Comrie has had a few solid outings, but has understandably been unable to fill the void of the team's three-time Vezina-winning goalie. When Comrie has been unable to go, Thomas Milic has been unable to step up to the plate, resulting in his demotion to Manitoba (AHL), with goalie Domenic DiVincentiis coming back the other way in a corresponding move. The 21-year-old DiVicentiis is unlikely to see much playing time at the NHL level, but has been solid in the AHL this season, posting a 2.49 GAA and .915 SV% in 13 games (6-7-0).

The Jets have struggled immensely since Connor Hellebuyck (knee) has been sidelined. Eric Comrie has had a few solid outings, but has understandably been unable to fill the void of the team's three-time Vezina-winning goalie. When Comrie has been unable to go, Milic has been unable to step up to the plate, making his NHL debut this season and posting a 3.46 GAA and .871 SV% through three appearances (0-1-0). As such, the Jets have reassigned Milic to Manitoba (AHL), with goalie Domenic DiVincentiis coming back the other way in a corresponding move.

McAvoy has not played since suffering an upper-body injury on November 15th and has undergone a challenging recovery, but appears to be nearing his return after being a full participant at practice on Monday and will travel with hopes of appearing in their upcoming road trip. The 27-year-old McAvoy was having a productive season before his injury, despite not scoring a goal, but tallying 14 assists through 19 games.

Dakota Mermis will draw back into Toronto's lineup on Monday against the Tampa Bay lightning, resulting in Myers being a healthy scratch. The 28-year-old Myers has one assist and is averaging 13:53 time-on-ice through 14 games this season.

Philippe Myers will be a healthy scratch on Monday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, allowing Mermis to re-enter the lineup. The 31-year-old Mermis is averaging 13:16 time-on-ice and has one goal in 10 games this season.

The Maple Leafs will alter their bottom-six forward formation on Monday, with Jarnkrok replacing Nicholas Robertson. The 34-year-old Jarnkrok has four points (4G / 0A) in 18 games this season, but has been held off the scoresheet in nine straight contests.

Calle Jarnkrok will draw back into Toronto's lineup on Monday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, sending Robertson to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Robertson has 12 points (6G / 6A) in 27 games and is pacing for career-best offensive totals, but has still lacked the consistency the Maple Leafs have hoped for. He has one point (1G / 0A) in his last nine games.

Vasilevskiy has not played since December 2nd and has been retroactively placed on Injured Reserve. Before his injury, the 31-year-old Vasilevskiy was putting together a season worth of Vezina Trophy consideration, posting a 2.31 GAA and .916 SV% in 19 games (11-6-2). Relying on Jonas Johansson, Tampa Bay has gone 0-2-0 and will be eagerly awaiting the return of Vasilevskiy.

Joseph Woll (lower body) isn't expected to miss significant time, but Hildeby has played admirably lately and will continue as the Maple Leafs' de facto starting goalie on Monday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 24-year-old Hildeby has an otherworldly .963 SV%, saving 78 of 81 shots, across his last four appearances (1-0-1). He has a 2.51 GAA and .927 SV% in eight appearances this season (1-2-2). The Maple Leafs enter Monday's contest as +106 road underdogs against a Lightning team on a three-game losing skid (0-3-0).