TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING 50-26-6 · 2ND IN EAST, ATLANTIC
50-26-6 · 2ND IN EAST, ATLANTIC
Next Game vs Canadiens · Sun 5:00PM
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GAME LOG
Anthony Cirelli - Playing Saturday Cirelli (undisclosed) will be in the lineup Saturday, Lightning reporter Gabby Shirley reports.
Impact Cirelli was injured in the third period Thursday and did not return. He has nine goals and 19 points in 30 games this season. He should return to a top-six role against the Hurricanes on Saturday.
DECEMBER 20, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
Nikita Kucherov - Game-time decision Kucherov (illness) will be a game-time decision against Carolina on Saturday, per Lightning reporter Gabby Shirley.
Impact Kucherov didn't participate in Saturday's optional morning skate after missing Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Kings. He has amassed 13 goals, 42 points and 96 shots on net through 30 appearances this season.
DECEMBER 20, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
Brandon Hagel - Unavailable Saturday Hagel (upper body) won't play against Carolina on Saturday, Lightning reporter Gabby Shirley reports.
Impact Hagel will miss his second straight game, and it wouldn't be surprising if he sat out Monday's matchup against St. Louis to give him some additional time to rest before the Christmas break. He has accounted for 18 goals, 31 points, 95 shots on net and 25 hits through 32 appearances this season.
DECEMBER 20, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
Lightning vs. Hurricanes: How to Watch, Odds, Picks & Predictions - Bleacher Nation A close NHL matchup is projected on Saturday when the Tampa Bay Lightning (18-13-3) host the Carolina Hurricanes (22-9-3) at Benchmark Inter...
DECEMBER 20, 2025 • BLEACHERNATION.COM
Jakob Pelletier - Summoned from AHL Pelletier was recalled from AHL Syracuse on Saturday.
Impact The Lightning could be down a couple of forwards Saturday as Nikita Kucherov was a late scratch Thursday due to an illness, while Brandon Hagel is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Pelletier was tied for the AHL lead in points with 31, before his recall.
DECEMBER 20, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
Jack Finley - Recalled from conditioning stint Finley was summoned from AHL Syracuse on Saturday.
Impact Finley had a goal and two assists during his three-game stint with Syracuse. The 23-year-old managed a goal and an assist in 11 games with the Lightning this season. He could return to the lineup as early as Saturday versus Carolina as Nikita Kucherov (illness) and Brandon Hagel (upper body) are questionable.
DECEMBER 20, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Carolina visits Tampa Bay after Aho's 2-goal game

The Carolina Hurricanes visit the Tampa Bay Lightning after Sebastian Aho scored two goals in the Hurricanes' 4-3 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers
DECEMBER 20, 2025 • Associated Press

Lightning vs. Hurricanes Prediction, Odds, Picks - Dec. 20

Preview the Dec. 20 matchup between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes with betting odds over/under, game spread, moneyline, pr...
DECEMBER 20, 2025 • Data Skrive
Lightning vs. Hurricanes Prediction, Odds, Picks - Dec. 20
Lucas Mercuri - Pair of points Friday Mercuri scored a goal and added an assist in AHL Syracuse's 5-3 win over Hartford on Friday.
Impact Mercuri is picking up the pace with three goals and a helper over his last three games. This was his first multi-point effort as a professional, but he has just 10 points with 28 shots on net, 32 PIM and a plus-7 rating over 23 outings.
DECEMBER 20, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
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
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