Ad
Tampa Bay Lightning News
The Hurricanes have acquired Jake Guentzel and Ty Smith from the Penguins for Michael Bunting, Ville Koivunen, Vasili Ponomarev, Cruz Lucius, a conditional first-round pick and a conditional fifth-round pick.

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.

Jake Guentzel
Vasilevskiy will start against the Flames on Thursday.

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.

Andrei Vasilevskiy
Vasilevskiy is expected to start on Thursday vs. Calgary.

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.

Andrei Vasilevskiy
Vasilevskiy will start on Thursday vs. Buffalo.

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.

Andrei Vasilevskiy
Vasilevskiy will start on Tuesday in Philadelphia.

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%.

Andrei Vasilevskiy
Pouliot has been recalled from Texas (AHL) on Monday.

Pouliot has played the last four games for the Stars, recording -1 plus/minus, three shots and three hits while averaging under 13 minutes per night. The 30-year-old Pouliot is no stranger to the NHL with 225 games under his belt but has spent the majority of the 2023-24 campaign with Texas (AHL), tallying 31 points (8G / 23A) in 44 games.

Derrick Pouliot
Pouliot has been loaned to the Texas Stars (AHL).

Pouliot played the last three games for the Stars but will return to Texas (AHL), indicating that Jani Hakanpaa or Nils Lundkvist are ready to return from injuries. The 30-year-old Pouliot is no stranger to the NHL with 224 games under his belt but has spent the majority of the 2023-24 campaign with Texas (AHL), tallying 31 points (8G / 23A) in 44 games.

Derrick Pouliot