TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING 29-13-3 · 1ST IN EAST, ATLANTIC
29-13-3 · 1ST IN EAST, ATLANTIC
Next Game at Blues · Sat 1:00AM
NHL > TEAMS >

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING NEWS

NEWS

SCHEDULE

STANDINGS

ROSTER

VIDEOS

STATS

ODDS

GAME LOG
Postgame Media vs LAK | Cooper, McDonagh, Girgensons
DECEMBER 19, 2025 • YOUTUBE
HIGHLIGHTS: LA Kings at Tampa Bay Lightning | 12.18.25
DECEMBER 19, 2025 • YOUTUBE
Oliver Bjorkstrand - Nets team's lone goal in loss Bjorkstrand scored a power-play goal Thursday in a 2-1 loss to the Kings.
Impact Bjorkstrand opened the scoring in the first period when Anthony Cirelli found him open in the low spot. He tried a jam play, which Anton Forsberg stopped, but the rebound was there for the taking. Bjorkstrand saw daylight five-hole, and he made no mistake. He has six points (three goals, three assists) and 11 shots in his last five games. Three of those points, including two goals, came on the power play. Is he warming up? Maybe. Bjorkstrand was supposed to bring solid veteran offense to the Bolts, but he has struggled to bring that part of his game to the Sunshine State. He has just five goals, 10 assists and 58 shots this season (34 games).
DECEMBER 19, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
Andrei Vasilevskiy - Sharp in return from injury Vasilevskiy made 18 saves in a 2-1 loss to the Kings on Thursday.
Impact This loss wasn't on Vasilevskiy -- the shot attempts were 78-33 in the Bolts favor, but his teammates simply couldn't execute. He needs some kind of support. It was his first start after missing the last seven games with an undisclosed injury. Get Vasilevskiy back in your lineup.
DECEMBER 19, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
Anthony Cirelli - Sustains injury Thursday Cirelli (undisclosed) was hurt in the third period of Thursday's game versus the Kings, and head coach Jon Cooper didn't have an update on the center's status after the contest, Be...
Impact Cirelli was hurt on a hit by Kevin Fiala. The Lightning were already playing one short since Nikita Kucherov (illness) couldn't suit up, making the team eligible to dip into emergency recalls prior to Friday's roster freeze for the holiday break. Cirelli's status should be updated prior to Saturday's game versus the Hurricanes. He had an assist Thursday and is up to 19 points in 30 appearances.
DECEMBER 19, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
Kings vs. Lightning | NHL Highlights | December 18, 2025
DECEMBER 19, 2025 • YOUTUBE
Kempe scores twice, Kings edge Lightning to end 4-game skid | NHL.com Forsberg makes 31 saves for Los Angeles; Tampa Bay loses 3rd in row
DECEMBER 19, 2025 • NHL.COM
NHL Highlights | Kings vs. Lightning - December 18, 2025
DECEMBER 19, 2025 • YOUTUBE

Kempe scores twice in 2nd period as Kings beat Lightning 2-1 to snap 4-game skid

Adrian Kempe scored twice in the second period, and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1
DECEMBER 19, 2025 • Associated Press
Nikita Kucherov - Won't play Thursday Kucherov is a late scratch for Thursday's game against Los Angeles because of an illness.
Impact Kucherov has 13 goals and 42 points in 30 outings this season. His illness brings Tampa Bay down to 11 healthy forwards and six healthy defensemen, so it appears the Lightning will play one skater short. Kucherov's absence might also result in Pontus Holmberg serving in a top-six capacity against the Kings.
DECEMBER 19, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
Brandon Hagel - Won't play Thursday Hagel (upper body) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Kings, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Hagel sustained an upper-body injury during Monday's loss to the Panthers, and although he's considered day-to-day, head coach Jon Cooper indicated ahead of Thursday's matchup that the 27-year-old may not return until after the holiday break. Dominic James will enter the lineup in Hagel's absence Thursday, while the latter's final two chances to return before the break will be Saturday against the Hurricanes and Monday against the Blues.
DECEMBER 18, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
Andrei Vasilevskiy - Returning to action Thursday Vasilevskiy will serve as the starting netminder for Thursday's home game against the Kings, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports.
Impact Vasilevskiy was activated off injured reserve Tuesday, and head coach Jon Cooper confirmed that the 31-year-old will return to the lineup after missing the last seven games due to his undisclosed injury. Over 19 appearances this year, Vasilevskiy has gone 11-6-2 with a 2.31 GAA and .916 save percentage.
DECEMBER 18, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
Steven Santini - Returns to AHL Santini was reassigned to AHL Syracuse on Thursday.
Impact Santini has an assist in eight outings with Tampa Bay this season. The 30-year-old has also recorded five assists across 16 appearances with Syracuse.
DECEMBER 18, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
Lightning Goalie Set to Make Return vs. Kings The Tampa Bay Lightning have reason to rejoice. After being without star goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy since he went down with an undisclosed in...
DECEMBER 18, 2025 • SI.COM
LA Kings at Tampa Bay Lightning odds, picks and predictions The LA Kings face the Tampa Bay Lightning Thursday at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET.
DECEMBER 18, 2025 • NEWS-JOURNALONLINE.COM
Ryan McDonagh - Taken off injured reserve McDonagh (undisclosed) was activated from injured reserve on Thursday, per the NHL media site.
Impact McDonagh last played Nov. 8 and has missed the last 18 games. The 36-year-old veteran defenseman was off to a good start to the season before his injury, tallying three goals and six points in 15 games. He should enter the lineup Thursday, replacing Steve Santini.
DECEMBER 18, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Kings bring losing streak into game against the Lightning

The Los Angeles Kings come into the matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning after losing four straight games
DECEMBER 18, 2025 • Associated Press

Lightning vs. Kings Prediction, Odds, Picks - Dec. 18

Preview the Dec. 18 matchup between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Los Angeles Kings with betting odds over/under, game spread, moneyline, pred...
DECEMBER 18, 2025 • Data Skrive
Lightning vs. Kings Prediction, Odds, Picks - Dec. 18
Maxim Groshev - Three points in AHL win Groshev scored a goal and added two assists in AHL Syracuse's 5-0 win over Bridgeport on Wednesday.
Impact Groshev had gone four games without a point and 14 contests without a multi-point effort. The defenseman is now at one goal and 11 points, along with a plus-9 rating, over 25 appearances this season. He's also received a couple of call-ups to the Lightning amid the parent club's ongoing injury concerns on the blue line, but he has yet to make his NHL debut.
DECEMBER 18, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
Ryan Fanti - Collects shutout Wednesday Fanti posted an 18-save shutout in AHL Syracuse's 5-0 win over Bridgeport on Wednesday.
Impact Fanti's shutout was the second of his career in the AHL. The goalie lost six straight games (0-5-1) between Nov. 7 and Dec. 10, but he's since won two in a row. He's now 6-5-1 with a 2.34 GAA and a .907 save percentage in 12 games this year for the Crunch.
DECEMBER 18, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
Brandon Hagel - Considered day-to-day Assistant coach Rob Zettler said Wednesday that Hagel is considered day-to-day due to an upper-body injury, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports.
Impact Hagel exited Monday's loss to the Panthers in the third period, and head coach Jon Cooper didn't provide an update on the 27-year-old's status after the game. Hagel's injury doesn't seem to be particularly serious, but the Lightning will see how he feels ahead of Thursday's game against the Kings before determining his status. If Hagel is unable to suit up against Los Angeles, Dominic James will be a candidate to enter the lineup.
DECEMBER 17, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
Ryan McDonagh - Could return versus Kings McDonagh (undisclosed) told reporters, "We'll see," when asked if he would be ready to play against Los Angeles on Thursday, Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com reports.
Impact McDonagh has been on the shelf since Nov. 8 versus the Capitals, a stretch of 18 games on injured reserve due to his undisclosed injury. Prior to his absence, the veteran blueliner was struggling offensively with just one point in his last eight outings. If McDonagh is cleared to play Thursday, it would likely come at the expense of Declan Carlile or Steve Santini.
DECEMBER 17, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
Andrei Vasilevskiy - Removed from IR Vasilevskiy (undisclosed) was activated off injured reserve Tuesday, according to Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com.
Impact Brandon Halverson was returned to AHL Syracuse on Tuesday, which paves the way for Vasilevskiy to return to the lineup Thursday against the Kings. It's unclear whether Jonas Johansson will draw an eighth consecutive start or if Vasilevskiy will be between the pipes for that matchup, but the latter is poised to reclaim the No. 1 gig in short order. The 31-year-old Vasilevskiy owns an 11-6-2 record, .916 save percentage and 2.31 GAA over 19 starts in 2025-26.
DECEMBER 16, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
Max Crozier - Finds twine in loss Crozier scored a goal on two shots, added two PIM and logged two hits in Monday's 5-2 loss to the Panthers.
Impact Crozier's first goal of the season got the Lightning on the board at 19:27 of the second period to break up Sergei Bobrovsky's shutout bid. The 25-year-old Crozier has had his season disrupted by an undisclosed injury, but he's picked up five points in 15 outings so far. He's added 25 shots on net, 15 hits, 11 blocked shots, 13 PIM and a plus-3 rating, offering a little grit in a bottom-four role.
DECEMBER 16, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
J.J. Moser - Goals in consecutive contests Moser scored a goal on two shots, added two hits and went plus-2 in Monday's 5-2 loss to the Panthers.
Impact Moser has scored in back-to-back games and has four points over his last three contests. The 25-year-old defenseman is once again poised for extra even-strength minutes in the absence of Victor Hedman (elbow). Moser is at 11 points, 43 shots on net, 37 blocked shots, 22 hits and a plus-20 rating over 31 appearances. He may see a slight uptick in offense, but he's tracking to finish in the 20-25 point range this season.
DECEMBER 16, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
Top Leagues
NFL NFLCollege Football College FootballINDYCAR Image INDYCARMLB MLBCollege Basketball College BasketballNASCAR Image NASCAR
Top Shows
The Herd with Colin Cowherd The Herd with Colin CowherdFirst Things First First Things FirstThe Joel Klatt Show logo The Joel Klatt ShowKevin Harvick's Happy Hour logo Kevin Harvick's Happy HourBear Bets logo Bear Bets
Affiliated Apps
FOX Sports FOX SportsFOX One FOX One
Quick Links
2026 FIFA WORLD CUP Image FIFA World Cup 2026â„¢Best Betting Apps Image Best Betting Apps & SitesBest Sportsbook Promos Image Best Sportsbook Promos2025 NFL Scores Image 2025 NFL ScoresMissouri Sports Betting Image Missouri Sports Betting
FOX SPORTS™, SPEED™, SPEED.COM™ & © 2026 Fox Media LLC and Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Use of this website (including any and all parts and components) constitutes your acceptance of these Terms of Use and New Privacy Policy | Advertising Choices | Your Privacy Choices | Closed Captioning
HelpPressAdvertise with UsJobsFOX CincyRSSSitemap
FS1FOXFOX NewsFox CorporationFOX Sports SupportsFOX Deportes