Tampa Bay Lightning News Page 8 - NHL

Maxim Groshev - Called up to NHL Groshev has been recalled from AHL Syracuse by the Lightning, the team announced Sunday.

Impact The Lightning defensemen injury list is extensive: Ryan McDonagh (undisclosed), Victor Hedman (elbow), Emil Lilleberg (undisclosed) and Erik Cernak (hand). That left the roster at just five healthy defensemen, necessitating the call-up of Groshev. Should the 24-year-old, leading AHL Syracuse in blueline scoring with 12 points, play Sunday, it will be his NHL debut.

DECEMBER 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Steven Santini - Sent to AHL Santini was loaned to AHL Syracuse on Sunday, per the NHL media site.

Impact Santini has one assist, six blocked shots and seven hits in nine NHL appearances this season. He has supplied five helpers in 18 AHL outings during the 2025-26 campaign.

DECEMBER 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Wild and Lightning make a 1 for 1 trade on Sunday. Two forwards on the move in 1 for 1 deal on Sunday.

DECEMBER 28, 2025 • HOCKEYFEED.COM

Ryan McDonagh - Surfaces on IR McDonagh (undisclosed) was placed on injured reserve Sunday, per the NHL media site.

Impact McDonagh missed Saturday's 4-2 win over Florida and won't play against Montreal on Sunday. However, it's unclear when he will be ready to return to the lineup. The 36-year-old defenseman has four goals, eight points, 17 shots on net, 29 blocked shots and nine hits through 18 appearances this season.

DECEMBER 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Brandon Hagel - Back from IR Hagel (upper body) was activated off of injured reserve and will likely play in Sunday's contest with the Canadiens, Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com reports.

Impact Hagel has missed the last four games with injury, but it seems like the holiday break was well-timed to minimize his time out of the lineup. The 27-year-old has enjoyed a great season so far, registering 18 goals and 13 assists in 32 games. With his return to the top-six, the Lightning will have their full compliment of forwards for Sunday's contest.

DECEMBER 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Michael Milne - Traded to Tampa Milne has been traded to the Lightning in exchange for Boris Katchouk, the teams announced Sunday.

Impact Milne made his NHL debut with the Wild last season and spent some time in the NHL this season but did not appear in a game. In the AHL, the 23-year-old has just five points (two goals, three assists) in 15 games. Milne will likely begin his career in the Lightning organization with AHL Syracuse.

DECEMBER 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Lightning try to keep win streak alive, host the Canadiens

The Tampa Bay Lightning head into a matchup against the Montreal Canadiens as winners of three straight games

DECEMBER 28, 2025 • Associated Press

Yanni Gourde - Adds helper in win Gourde notched an assist and six PIM in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Panthers.

Impact Gourde has three helpers over his last seven games, but he's on another lengthy goal drought that stands at 13 contests following Saturday. The defensive forward is up to 13 points, 55 shots on net, 50 hits, 18 blocked shots, 28 PIM and a plus-3 rating through 37 appearances. Gourde will continue to hold a spot in the lineup even if his offense goes cold rather than lukewarm, but he hasn't produced at a level that will help many fantasy managers.

DECEMBER 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Anthony Cirelli - Provides two assists Cirelli logged two assists, three hits and two PIM in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Panthers.

Impact Cirelli set up a Jake Guentzel shorthanded tally in the first period and a Nikita Kucherov empty-netter in the third. The 28-year-old Cirelli has a goal and three helpers over his last four contests as he continues to bounce back after a quiet first half of December. The two-way center is up to 22 points (three on the power play, two shorthanded) with 60 shots on net, 23 hits, 20 blocked shots, 10 PIM and a plus-20 rating over 33 appearances in a top-six role this season.

DECEMBER 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Pontus Holmberg - Three-game point streak Holmberg score a goal Saturday in a 4-2 win over the Panthers.

Impact Holmberg got a breakaway after Tampa Bay jumped on a Florida turnover in the neutral zone with seconds left in the third period. It was a huge boost heading into the dressing room with a 2-1 lead racked up with just :08 on the clock. Holmberg is on a modest three-game, three-point scoring streak that includes two goals and five shots. Overall, his five goals and six assists in 30 games played make him a better option for the wire than a fantasy roster.

DECEMBER 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Andrei Vasilevskiy - Third straight win Vasilevskiy made 24 saves in a 4-2 win over Florida on Saturday.

Impact It was Vasilevskiy's third consecutive win and 14th this season. He's top-10 in wins (14; four-way tie for seventh), GAA (2.30; eighth) and save percentage (.914; three-way tie for seventh). Vasilevskiy has missed time due to injury, but if he can remain healthy, he should be able to put up his ninth straight season with at least 30 wins.

DECEMBER 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Jake Guentzel - Four-game, six-point streak Guentzel scored a shorthanded goal Saturday in a 4-2 win over the Panthers.

Impact The Panthers turned over the puck, and Guentzel chased it down at the top of the left circle in the offensive zone where he wired it high over Sergei Bobrovsky's shoulder glove side. The points extended his scoring streak to four games and six points (three goals, three assists) on 13 shots. Overall, Guentzel has 18 goals, 21 assists, 101 shots, 23 blocks and 17 hits in 37 games.

DECEMBER 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Lightning vs. Canadiens Prediction, Odds, Picks - Dec. 28

Preview the Dec. 28 matchup between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens with betting odds over/under, game spread, moneyline, pre...

DECEMBER 28, 2025 • Data Skrive

Lightning vs. Canadiens Prediction, Odds, Picks - Dec. 28

Nikita Kucherov - Three-game, five-point streak Kucherov scored twice in a 4-2 win over the Panthers on Saturday.

Impact Kucherov made it 3-1 early in the second period, scoring on a 2-on-1 with Brayden Point. His second went into an empty net. Kucherov is riding a three-game, five-point scoring streak (two goals, three assists). He has 47 points, including 15 goals, and 102 shots in just 33 games this season, which puts him squarely into the NHL's top-10 scorers.

DECEMBER 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Lightning, defenseman JJ Moser agree on 8-year, $54 million extension

DECEMBER 28, 2025 • Associated Press

Lightning vs. Panthers | NHL Highlights | December 27, 2025

DECEMBER 28, 2025 • YOUTUBE

Kucherov scores twice, Lightning top Panthers 4-2 in another penalty-filled matchup

Pontus Holmberg scores with 7.3 seconds left in the first period, putting Tampa Bay ahead for good

DECEMBER 28, 2025 • Associated Press

J.J. Moser - Lands eight-year extension Moser signed an eight-year, $54 million contract extension with Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Impact Moser's new deal will run through the 2033-34 campaign. He has produced three goals, 12 points, 50 shots on net, 43 blocked shots and 26 hits through 34 appearances this season.

DECEMBER 27, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

FLA vs TBL: Paul Maurice - Morning Skate | Florida Panthers Maurice talks returning from the holiday, the rivalry with Lightning and more.

DECEMBER 27, 2025 • NHL.COM

PREVIEW: Panthers, Lightning return from break with Battle of Florida | Florida Panthers Panthers with a chance to jump Lightning in standings

DECEMBER 27, 2025 • NHL.COM

Erik Cernak - Practices Saturday Cernak (hand) participated in Saturday's morning skate and could be nearing a return to the lineup, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Cernak will miss his 16th straight game against Florida on Saturday. However, he might be ready to return during the team's upcoming three-game road trip, which begins Wednesday against Anaheim. Cernak has contributed four assists, 13 shots on goal, 43 blocked shots and 40 hits through 19 appearances this season.

DECEMBER 27, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Ryan McDonagh - Not playing Saturday McDonagh (undisclosed) has been ruled out of Saturday's tilt in Florida, according to Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times.

Impact McDonagh re-aggravated his previous injury that kept him out of the lineup for 18 games, before he returned Dec. 18. McDonagh has four goals and four assists through 18 games this season. The Lightning recalled Steve Santini from AHL Syracuse and he should enter the lineup in place of McDonagh.

DECEMBER 27, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Andrei Vasilevskiy - First off Saturday Vasilevskiy was the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate, according to Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times, indicating he will guard the road goal against Florida on...

Impact Vasilevskiy has won his last two outings while stopping 41 of 46 shots. He has a 13-7-2 record this campaign with one shutout, a 2.32 GAA and a .913 save percentage through 22 appearances this season. Florida is tied for ninth in the league with 3.19 goals per game this season.

DECEMBER 27, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Steven Santini - Recalled from AHL Santini was summoned from AHL Syracuse on Saturday.

Impact The Lightning are down to only six healthy defensemen, hence the recall of Santini. He has one assist, six hits and five blocked shots in eight NHL games this season. Santini, who is likely to be a healthy scratch Saturday in Florida, had five assists in 18 AHL games before his recall.

DECEMBER 27, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Scott Sabourin - Summoned from Syracuse Sabourin was recalled from AHL Syracuse on Saturday.

Impact Sabourin has played seven games at the NHL level this season, notching one goal and two assists with 13 hits. The 33-year-old had six goals and two helpers across 20 AHL games before his recall.

DECEMBER 27, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

INJURIES

PLAYER NEWS

Lightning try to keep win streak alive, host the Canadiens

Lightning vs. Canadiens Prediction, Odds, Picks - Dec. 28

Lightning, defenseman JJ Moser agree on 8-year, $54 million extension

Kucherov scores twice, Lightning top Panthers 4-2 in another penalty-filled matchup

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING NEWS

NEWS

SCHEDULE

STANDINGS

ROSTER

VIDEOS

STATS

ODDS

GAME LOG

INJURIES

PLAYER NEWS

Lightning try to keep win streak alive, host the Canadiens

Lightning vs. Canadiens Prediction, Odds, Picks - Dec. 28

Lightning, defenseman JJ Moser agree on 8-year, $54 million extension

Kucherov scores twice, Lightning top Panthers 4-2 in another penalty-filled matchup