Hedman will miss his third straight game with an illness, which means that Luke Witkowski is expected to remain in the lineup in San Jose. Monitor his status prior to Saturday’s game in Arizona.

Vasilevskiy allowed two goals on 30 shots in the Lightning’s loss to Columbus last Friday. Ben Bishop started on Monday and Tuesday, so the Lightning will go to Vasilevskiy tonight so Bishop doesn’t play three times in four days. Vasilevskiy has gone 0-5-0 with a 4.56 GAA and .867 SV% in January, but last weeks’ performance was a big improvement on how he had been playing.

Guentzel, 22, has three goals with one assist in five games with the Penguins earlier this season. The American-born winger leads the AHL with 21 goals and his 42 points (21G / 21A) is good for second. Guentzel has been great with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and will skate with Evgeni Malkin in Monday’s game.

Vasilevskiy allowed six goals on 40 shots in the Lightning’s loss to the Penguins on Sunday. Ben Bishop started last night and his return means less games for Vasilevskiy, but he’ll go tonight because of the back-to-back. Vasilevskiy has lost five of his last six while posting a 4.07 GAA and .878 SV%.

Vasilevskiy gave up four goals on 44 shots in the Lightning’s loss in Philadelphia last night. With Bishop out, the Lightning really have no point but to stick with Vasilevskiy, who has lost three straight, while allowing an insane 14 goals on 82 shots (.853 SV%). In his first start vs. the Penguins, the 22-year-old allowed four goals on 37 shots in a 4-3 loss.

Point has missed the last four games with an upper-body injury, but could return to the lineup this afternoon in Philadelphia. Point will take warmups and his decision will be made depending on how he feels.

Vasilevskiy was shelled for five goals on 18 shots in the Lightning’s loss to the Predators on Thursday. Vasilevskiy has lost four of his last six starts while posting a brutal 3.62 GAA and .868 SV%. Vasilevskiy has struggled as the Lightning’s temporary No.1, but has gone 2-0-0 with a 1.00 GAA and .968 SV% in his first two starts against the Flyers.

Vasilevskiy allowed five goals on 33 shots in the Lightning’s loss to the Jets on Tuesday. With Ben Bishop still out, it remains Vasilevskiy’s net even though he has posted a 2.86 GAA and .898 SV% in seven games since Bishop was hurt. Tonight he faces Nashville on home-ice, where he has gone 7-2-2 with a 2.50 GAA and .917 SV% this season.

Gourde, 25, failed to record a point in either game during his call-up, so he returns to Syracuse where he has 10 goals and 16 assists (26 points) in 29 games this season.

Vasilevskiy allowed one goal on 27 shots in the Lightning’s win over the Hurricanes last Saturday. Vasilevskiy has four wins in his last six appearances while posting a 2.47 GAA and .909 SV%. Tonight he will take on the Jets on home-ice—the 22-year old is 7-1-2 with a 2.25 GAA and .925 SV% at Amalie Arena this season.

Santini, 21, made his NHL debut last season and will make his season debut tonight vs. the Bruins. The 2013 second round pick (42nd overall) has no points in 15 games with Albany this season. Expect him to skate on the right side of Jon Merrill.

Vasilevskiy allowed three goals on 22 shots in the Lightning’s win over Montreal last night. Because he wasn’t overly busy and Ben Bishop is out, Vasilevskiy will go again tonight vs. the Maple Leafs. The 22-year-old has gone 6-1-1 with a 2.32 GAA and .922 SV% at Amalie Arena this season, but the Maple Leafs come in on a three-game winning streak.

Point suffered an upper-body injury in Wednesday’s win over the Canadiens and will miss at least one month. This is a tough break for Point, who is having a strong rookie season. With Point out, Yanni Gourde was recalled from Syracuse (AHL) and is expected to draw into the lineup on Thursday.

Point was reportedly hurt in Wednesday’s game vs. the Canadiens and is questionable for tonight’s game. The Lightning recalled Yanni Gourde this morning, which suggest that Point will not play tonight.

Gourde, 25, appeared in two games with the Lightning last season, but this is his first call-up of 2016-17. Gourde has 10 goals and 16 assists (26 points) in 29 games with Syracuse. He could make his season debut tonight with Vladislav Namestnikov and Brayden Point both leaving last night’s game with injuries.

Kucherov has missed the last six games with a lower-body injury, but returned to practice on Tuesday, was on the ice for Wednesday’s morning skate and is expected to play vs. the Canadiens. Kucherov is arguably the Lightning’s most important player, so his return is key. Kucherov returns with 30 points (13G / 17A) in 28 games this season.

Vasilevskiy allowed four goals on 24 shots in the Lightning’s loss in Washington last Friday. Despite a tough outing, the Lightning will go back to Vasilevskiy tonight vs. the Canadiens. Overall he is 2-3-0 with a 3.62 GAA and .878 SV% in December, but has gone 5-1-1 with a 2.23 GAA and .928 SV% on home-ice this season.