Hedman was listed as day-to-day on Monday but was always trending towards playing in the season opener. Hedman is coming off of 54 points (12G / 42A) last season and will skate with Kevin Shattenkirk at 5v5 and anchor the top power-play unit.
Hedman missed Monday’s practice as “maintenance” but head coach Jon Cooper believes his star defenseman will be able to play in the season opener. Hedman is coming off of a 54-point (12G / 42A) season, where he only skated in 70 games.
Point was not expected to be ready for the season opener, but he was a full participant in Monday’s practice and centred the top-line with Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov. This doesn’t necessarily mean Point will be ready for Thursday, but the possibility of him playing is looking more and more likely.
Sheary didn’t play in Saturday’s preseason finale and missed Sunday’s practice as well. Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger said that Sheary skated on his own before practice, but his absence over the weekend clouds his status for Thursday’s season opener.
Sabourin has bounced around the AHL over his career, never appearing in an NHL game. The 27-year-old winger had just four goals and four assists (eight points) in 43 games with the Stockton Heat (AHL) last year.
Pelletier was picked with the No.26 overall pick in this summer’s NHL Entry Draft after scoring 39 goals with 50 assists (89 points) with the Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL). He was assigned to Moncton earlier today.
Point underwent hip surgery in the offseason and is not expected to be ready for the start of the 2019-20 season. Lightning GM Julien BriseBois said he expects his second-line centre to return in late-October.
Point is coming off of a breakout campaign, having scored 41 goals with 51 assists (92 points) in 79 games. Point can expect some regression in 2020, after shooting 21.5 percent last year but ranks tied for eighth in goals (73) and tied for 22nd in points (158) over the last two seasons.
Vasilevskiy had an excellent 2019 regular season, leading the NHL in wins (39), fourth in shutouts (6), sixth in SV% (.925) and ninth in GAA (2.40). Despite having a forgettable postseason, Vasilevskiy earned a much-deserved raise, becoming the third highest-paid netminder in the NHL. He should absolutely be one of the first goalies drafted this fall (if not the first).
Santini, who is a former second-round pick (2013), is a big (6-foot-2, 205 lbs) defensive-defenseman. The 24-year-old has just 21 points (5G / 16A) in 114 career NHL games but should be more than capable of eating up 15 minutes per night on the Predators third pairing.
Vasilevskiy allowed two goals on 29 shots in the Lightning’s 3-1 loss in Columbus in Game 3. It was Vasilevskiy’s best performance of the series but he has now allowed 11 goals on 82 shots (.866 SV%) through three games. The Lightning’s season is on the line tonight in Columbus so they will need Vasilevskiy to have his best showing of the playoffs
Vasilevskiy allowed two goals on 29 shots in the Lightning’s 3-1 loss in Columbus in Game 3. It was Vasilevskiy’s best performance of the series but he has now allowed 11 goals on 82 shots (.866 SV%) through three games. The Lightning’s season is on the line tonight in Columbus so they will need Vasilevskiy to have his best showing of the playoffs.
The writing was on the wall for Hedman to miss Game 4 but he has now been downgraded to out by head coach Jon Cooper. Braydon Coburn will remain on the blueline with Hedman sidelined.
Even with the Lightning down 3-0 in Columbus, it doesn’t look like Hedman will be available for Game 4. With Hedman out in Game 3, Mikhail Sergachev played six more minutes (22:55) than he did in Game 2 and Ryan McDonagh led all defensemen with 23:00 TOI.
Hedman missed yesterday's practice and was listed as a game-time decision but will not play in Game 3 in Columbus. Braydon Coburn will draw into the Lightning lineup as they go to battle without Hedman or Nikita Kucherov.
Vasilevskiy surrendered five goals on 27 shots in the Lightning's 5-1 loss to the Blue Jackets in Game 2. Vasilevskiy, who could win the Vezina this season, has had a rough start to the postseason, allowing nine goals on 53 shots (.830 SV%) so far. Things will not get any easier in Game 3 as the Lightning will be without Nikita Kucherov (suspension) and Victor Hedman (injury).
Hedman missed Saturday's practice because he is "banged up" but head coach Jon Cooper is hopeful that their No.1 defeneman will be available on Sunday evening. The Lightning are down 2-0 and without their best forward, so they need Hedman in the lineup.
