Tampa Bay will likely continue to roll with Vasilevskiy in net for their third game to start the season. After a pedestrian 2023-24 campaign when he posted a 2.90 GAA and .900 SV% in 52 games (30-20-2), the former Vezina-trophy winner seems to have found his elite form early in the season, boasting a stellar 1.00 GAA and .958 SV% through two games (2-0-0). Tampa Bay enters action on Thursday as a -137 home favorite against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Atkinson will draw out of the lineup to make room for the return of Michael Eyssimont (lower-body). Atkinson was a -1 in Friday's season opener, playing just 8:42 and registering one shot on goal.

Tampa Bay has only played one game so far this season due to a postponed contest last week and will return to Vasilevskiy, their game-one starter, on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks. Vasilevskiy is coming off the worst season of his career, posting a 2.90 GAA and .900 SV% in 52 appearances in 2023-24 (30-20-2), but was stellar in his first contest this season, saving 20 of 21 shots (.952 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The Lightning enter Tuesday's action against the Canucks as -129 home favorites.

The Lightning will unsurprisingly turn to their franchise netminder for their season opener on Friday night. Vasilevskiy was uncharacteristically mediocre in 2023-24, though an early season back injury could be to blame. He posted a .900 SV%, a 2.90 GAA, and a 30-20-2 record across 52 starts. He'll be looking to regain his Vezina caliber form this season, but he draws a tough assignment on opening night. The Lightning enter action as +125 underdogs in Carolina.

Guentzel battled some injuries over the course of the preseason and after being unable to complete practice on Monday, did not participate in practice on Tuesday. There doesn't seem to be a lot of concern around the longevity of Guentzel's absence but his offensive prowess will be sorely missed if he is unable to suit up for Tampa Bay's season opener on Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes. In 67 games in 2023-24, the 30-year-old winger had 30 goals and 77 points.

Geekie left the Lightning's bench on Wednesday during their preseason game on a legal line change for the purpose of starting an altercation after his dust-up with Florida's Josh Davies and has been suspended for one game by the NHL Player Safety Department. The 20-year-old forward is battling for one of Tampa Bay's final roster spots after being acquired during the offseason in the deal which saw Mikhail Sergachev end up in Utah.

Tampa Bay's opening season forward depth took a hit on Wednesday as it was announced Luke Glendening will be limited at training camp due to an undisclosed injury and hopes he'll be ready to start the season. The 35-year-old center filled in Tampa Bay's bottom six admirably in 2023-24, with 10 goals, 11 points, 39 PIMs and 57 SOG in 81 games played.

Moser's rights were acquired by Tampa Bay two Saturday's ago in the massive blockbuster trade which saw Mikhail Sergachev head to Utah and the 24-year-old has signed a two-year, $6.75 million contract extension ($3.375 million AAV) with the Lightning on Thursday. The left-handed defensemen finsihed his third NHL season in 2023-24 with Arizona and had five goals, 26 points, 77 SOG and 35 PIMs in 80 games played.

Atkinson had a strong first season in Philadelphia but missed all of 2023 and struggled with 2024, scoring just 13 goals and 15 assists (28 points) in 70 games. At age-35, Atkinson's days of 30-plus goals are over, but he should provide the Lightning's bottom-6 and PP2 with some offensive punch.

Lilleberg came over from Sweden last season and split his time between the AHL and NHL. During his time with the Lightning, the 23-year-old defenseman had five assists and a minus-15 rating in 37 games. Expect Lilleberg to be in a battle with Nick Perbix to be the Lightning's No.6 defenseman in 2024-25.

Hedman's eight-year deal that he signed in 2016 will come to an end after the 2024-25 season, so he re-ups at almost the same number ($8.0M AAV) through the 2028-29 season. In 2024, his age 33 season, Hedman posted the second-highest point total of his career, scoring 13 goals with 63 assists (76 points) in 78 games.

Tampa's defensive depth got a little bit deeper on Tuesday with the addition of Steven Santini on a one-year, two-way contract. The 29-year-old has 23 points (5G/18A) in 123 career NHL games since making his debut in 2015-16.

Tampa Bay has poached one of Laval's assistant captains last season as it signed Tobie Bisson to a one-year, two-way contract on Tuesday. The undrafted 27-year-old has yet to make an NHL appearance but had nine goals and 27 points in 69 games with Laval (AHL) in 2023-24.

Journeyman Derrick Pouliot will join his eighth different organization in eight years after he agreed to sign a one-year, two-way contract with Tampa Bay on Tuesday. The 30-year-old appeared in five games for Dallas in 2023-24 but has eight goals and 54 points in 226 career NHL games.

After 10 seasons in Buffalo, Zemgus Girgensons will join the Tampa Bay Lightning on a three-year deal worth $2.55 million ($850K AAV). The 30-year-old Latvian veteran has scored between 14 and 19 points in all eight of his previous seasons. In his final season in Buffalo in 2023-24, he had eight goals, 14 points and 21 PIMs while averaging 11:51 TOI/GP.

Guentzel put up outstanding numbers next to Sidney Crosby since 2019 but also excelled following his trade to Carolina last year, posting 25 points (8G / 17A) in 17 games. With Guentzel now in Tampa Bay, he could find himself on one of the most prolific lines in hockey, next to Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point. He's averaged 39 goals and 46 assists (85 points) per 82 games over the last six seasons.

Tampa Bay completed its first small move of the offseason by acquiring 22-year-old Lukas Svejkovsky from Pittsburgh for Bennett MacArthur. Svejkovsky spent the majority of 2023-24 with the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL) and excelled with 16 goals and 37 points in 30 games played.

Tampa Bay shocked the hockey world on Sunday as it acquired the rights to Jake Guentzel from Caroline for a 2025 3rd round pick. The Lightning are now able to sign Guentzel to an eight-year contract since he is officially under their team's control. In 57 games in 2023-24, the 29-year-old winger had 30 goals and 77 points.

Geekie was dealt from Utah before ever playing a game for the franchise as he was moved alongside JJ Moser, a 2024 2nd Round Pick and a 2024 7th Round Pick to Tampa Bay for Mikhail Sergachev. Geekie was drafted in the 1st round (11th overall) of the 2022 draft by Arizona and had 43 goals and 99 points in 55 regular season games with both Swift Current (WHL) and Wenatchee (WHL) in 2023-24. He is expected to compete for a roster spot in Tampa Bay for the upcoming season.

Moser will head to Tampa Bay after being included alongside Conor Geekie, a 2024 2nd Round Pick and a 2024 7th Round Pick from Utah for Mikhail Sergachev. The 24-year-old swiss defender enjoyed a strong third NHL season in 2023-24, with five goals, 26 points, 77 SOG, and 35 PIMs in 80 games played.