Gill is Tampa Bay's 2022 seventh-round pick (233rd overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Wednesday. The 19-year-old defenseman just finished his fourth season with Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL) and had a goal and nine points in 12 games played in 2023-24.
After two seasons in Nashville, Ryan McDonagh will return to Tampa Bay where he spent five seasons after he was acquired on Tuesday alongside a 2024 4th round pick (EDM) from Nashville for a 2025 2nd round pick and a 2024 7th round pick. The 34-year-old veteran defensemen has appeared in 928 career games played across 14 NHL seasons and has 76 goals and 389 points during that span.
Chaffee was expected to be an unrestricted free agent come summer but has been re-signed by Tampa Bay for a two-year, $1.6 million ($800,000 AAV) contract extension on Thursday. The 26-year-old made his NHL debut in 2021-22 but played 30 of his 32 career games this season with Tampa Bay, picking up seven points (4G/3A) in 30 games played in 2023-24.
The Lightning will of course turn to their franchise netminder in their must-win matchup against the Panthers on Monday. After dropping each of the first three games of the series, Vasilevskiy and the Lightning got on the board in Game 4, as Vasilevskiy stopped 22 of the 25 shots he faced and the Lightning cruised to a 6-3 victory. The bookmakers don't love Tampa's chances of staying alive on Monday, as they enter action as +150 underdogs.
Perbix will draw in along with Tanner Jeannot after both players sat out Game 2 on Tuesday. Maxwell Crozier and Calvin de Haan will draw out of the lineup in their place.
Crozier will take a seat on Thursday as Nick Perbix and Tanner Jeannot draw back into the Lightning lineup. Calvin de Haan will also draw out and join Crozier as a healthy scratch.
Unsurprisingly, the Lightning have no desire to make any sort of change in goal despite being down 2-0 in the series, as they will once again roll with Vasilevskiy between the pipes. Vasilevskiy performed well in Games 1 and 2 despite coming out on the losing side in both instances, allowing just five goals on 64 shots (.922 SV%) across the two contests. The Lightning are actually slight favourites at home tonight despite the 2-0 series deficit, as they enter action at -115 on Thursday.
Perbix will draw out of the Lightning lineup as Maxwell Crozier and Calvin de Haan will draw in for Game 2 against the Panthers. It's unclear at this time whether Perbix is simply a healthy scratch or if he's dealing with an undisclosed injury.
After sitting out Game 1 as a healthy scratch, Crozier will get a chance to play in Game 2 against the Panthers on Tuesday as the Lightning are opting to dress seven defensemen. A 24-year-old rookie, Crozier finished the 2023-24 regular season with no goals and two assists in 13 games.
Unsurprisingly, the Lightning will turn right back to Vasilevskiy as they look to rebound in Game 2 of their series against the Panthers. The former Vezina Trophy winner was unfortunate to come out on the losing end of Game 1. He allowed just two goals on 27 shots in the 3-2 defeat. Vasilevskiy and the Lightning enter action tonight as slight underdogs at +135 as they hope to even the series before heading back home for Game 3.
Vasilevskiy was a workhorse after making his season debut on November 24th. It was statistically the worst season of his career, as his 2.90 GAA and .900 SV% were the worst marks of his first 10 seasons. Despite the underwhelming splits, Vasilevskiy still won 30 of 52 games, making it the seventh straight season he's won 30-plus games. He struggled in the postseason last year but is 65-42 with a 2.37 GAA and .921 in 110 career playoff appearances.
Glendening is expected to dress on line four for Game 1 but is still considered a game-time decision on Sunday. The 34-year-old veteran reached double-digit goals (10) for the first time since 2018-19 this season.
Glendening did not play in Tampa Bay's season finale due to an undisclosed injury and his status is up in the air for game one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 34-year-old Glendening scored 11 points (10G / 1A) in 81 games this season.
Cirelli will draw out of the Lightning lineup on Wednesday as Tampa Bay opts to give him the night off ahead of their playoff run. Victor Hedman and Luke Glendening will join him in the press box tonight
Glendening will draw out of the Lightning lineup on Wednesday as Tampa Bay opts to give him the night off ahead of their playoff run. Anthony Cirelli and Victor Hedman will join him in the press box tonight
Hedman will draw out of the Lightning lineup on Wednesday as Tampa Bay opts to give him the night off ahead of their playoff run. Anthony Cirelli and Luke Glendening will join him in the press box tonight
With Tampa Bay secured into a playoff spot, they have opted to start Tomkins more regularly and will turn to him again in their final game of the season for his third start in the last seven games. Tomkins was solid in his last outing, saving 25 of 27 shots (.926 SV%) in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Ottawa Senators. Tampa Bay enters action as a -137 home favourite on Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
