


Kucherov was injured after losing his footing and crashing into the boards on Thursday. He missed the Lightning’s morning skate and will not play in New Jersey tonight. Kucherov is listed as day-to-day.

Vasilevskiy stopped 27 of 28 shots in the Lightning’s win in Ottawa last Saturday. Another Saturday, another start for Vasilevskiy, who has won a game on the first two Saturday’s of the season while stopping 59 of 62 shots (.952 SV%). Tonight he faces the Devils, who he beat in his season debut and that ranks second last in scoring (2.14 G/PG).

Santina, 21, did not record a point in his first game with Albany this season. Santini was a second round pick (42nd overall) in 2013 and has a lot of offensive ability to bring to the Devils’ blueline.

Vasilevskiy allowed two goals on 34 shots in the Lightning’s win over the Devils last Saturday. Ben Bishop started the last two games, but it will be Vasilevskiy tonight in Ottawa. He is one of the best backups in the NHL and has a powerful offence in front of him, making him a legit spot-start option whenever he gets the nod.


Despite Ben Bishop practicing in the "starter's crease" this morning, head coach Jon Cooper said Vasilevskiy will start tonight vs. the Devils.Bishop had a rough night vs. the Red Wings on Thursday, so they will turn to Vasilevskiy, who draws a great matchup tonight vs. the Devils. Vasilevskiy comes in with an 18-15-1 record while posting a 2.60 GAA and .913 SV% in 40 career NHL games.

Ben Bishop has started 60-plus games in three consecutive seasons, but the Lightning would like that number to be closer to 50 this season, with Vasilevskiy getting around 30 games. Vasilevskiy is 18-15-1 with a 2.60 GAA and .913 SV% in his brief NHL career and is one of the best backup options in the NHL.

Santini was expected to start the season on the Devils’ third pairing, but a late signing of Kyle Quincey will push him out of the lineup tonight. He has offensive potential, but likely won’t be given enough opportunity to make a fantasy impact this season.

Kucherov burst onto the fantasy scene as a member of “The Triplets” line, only to improve on his numbers in 2015-16. Kucherov is coming off of 66 points (30G / 36A) in 77 games and has the potential to be a 70-plus point player who makes under $5 million per year. That’s unheard of.

Vasilevskiy, 21, was the 19th overall pick in 2012 and is ready for his first full NHL season in 2016-17. He was 11-10-0 with a 2.76 GAA and .910 SV% in 24 games with the Lightning and 7-4-1 with a 1.94 GAA and .935 SV% in 12 starts with Syracuse (AHL). Vasilevskiy enters the season as Ben Bishop’s backup, but he is the future of the Lightning’s net.

Hedman is heading into his final year of a five-year, $20 million dollar deal, but was extended through the 2024-25 season. The former second overall pick is coming off of another great season, where he scored double-digit goals (10) for the third straight season and posted 40-plus points (47) for the second time in his career. He has developed into one of the top defensemen in the NHL and now he is getting paid like one.







