TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING NEWS

Conor Geekie - Given one-game suspension Geekie will be suspended for Friday's matchup with Carolina, the Department of Player Safety announced Thursday.

Impact Geekie left the bench for the express purpose of starting a fight, which resulted in not only 19 minutes in penalties in Thursday's clash with Tampa Bay but will also see the 20-year-old center sitting out a game. While his suspension may not have a significant impact considering it's just the preseason, Geekie needs every available minute to impress team brass in the hopes of securing a roster spot for Opening Night against the Hurricanes on Oct. 11.

OCTOBER 3 • ROTOWIRE

Gage Goncalves - Suffers upper-body injury Goncalves is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com reports Thursday.

Impact Goncalves has missed the last two days of practice after playing Monday in Florida. He made his NHL debut in 2023-24, going pointless in two games. Goncalves had 13 goals and 45 assists in 69 regular-season AHL games with Syracuse and has a chance to crack the Lightning lineup as a bottom-six forward.

OCTOBER 3 • ROTOWIRE

Geekie to have Player Safety hearing for actions in Lightning game | NHL.com Forward facing discipline for leaving bench on legal line change to start altercation against Panthers

OCTOBER 3 • NHL.COM

Nikita Kucherov - Pots first goal of preseason Kucherov scored the Lightning's only goal Wednesday in a 2-1 preseason OT loss to the Panthers.

Impact With Tampa Bay down 1-0 late in the third period, Brayden Point won a faceoff in the Florida zone, and Kucherov blasted the feed past Spencer Knight on a one-timer. It was Kucherov's first goal this preseason, but after posting career highs with 44 goals and 144 points in 2023-24, the 31-year-old appears ready to come out flying out of the gates when the puck drops on the upcoming campaign.

OCTOBER 3 • ROTOWIRE

Andrei Vasilevskiy - Falls to Florida in OT Vasilevskiy turned aside 21 shots in Wednesday's 2-1 preseason OT loss to the Panthers.

Impact The veteran netminder was beaten through the five-hole by 20-year-old prospect Sandis Vilmanis on a quick shot from the slot just 15 seconds into the extra frame, but Vasilevskiy was generally sharp in his first preseason action. He's won at least 30 games in seven straight seasons for Tampa Bay, and there's little reason to think Vasilevskiy's streak will get snapped in 2024-25.

OCTOBER 3 • ROTOWIRE

Conor Geekie - Having disciplinary hearing Geekie will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Thursday for leaving the bench Wednesday for the purpose of starting a fight versus the Lightning.

Impact Geekie picked up 19 minutes in penalties for his first period fight with Josh Davies of the Lightning, including a minor for instigating. as well as a misconduct. The 20-year-old is expected to crack the Lightning lineup, although he is likely to fill a bottom-six role this season.

OCTOBER 3 • ROTOWIRE

Logan Brown - Dealing with injury Brown is being evaluated for an undisclosed injury, Gabby Shirley of Bally Sports Florida reports Wednesday.

Impact Brown missed the full 2023-24 campaign after undergoing hip surgery. He's been trying to earn a contract with Tampa Bay after joining the Lightning's training camp on a tryout basis. The 26-year-old forward has seven goals and 26 points in 99 career NHL games.

OCTOBER 2 • ROTOWIRE

Andrei Vasilevskiy - Tending twine Wednesday Vasilevsky was the first goalie off Wednesday, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports, indicating he'll start in goal in the team's preseason matchup against Florida.

Impact Matt Tomkins started in Tampa Bay's preseason opener, while Jonas Johansson has been between the pipes during the team's last three matchups. However, Vasilevsky will make his first preseason start during Wednesday's exhibition game. Heading into the 2024-25 regular season, Vasilevsky is seven wins away from reaching 300 in his career.

OCTOBER 2 • ROTOWIRE

Dylan Duke - Recalled by Tampa Bay Duke was recalled from AHL Syracuse on Wednesday.

Impact Duke joined Tampa Bay on a three-year, entry-level contract in April after initially being selected by the team in the fourth found of the 2021 NHL Draft. Although he'll have a chance to compete with the Lightning late in the preseason, it wouldn't be surprising to see him report back to the AHL once the regular season gets underway.

OCTOBER 2 • ROTOWIRE

Florida Panthers - Tampa Bay Lightning - Oct 2, 2024 | NHL.com NHL Gamecenter - Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, Oct 2, 2024 - summary, stats, boxscore, play by play, recap and more.

OCTOBER 2 • NHL.COM

Lightning's Victor Hedman lends helping hand to Helene first responders TAMPA BAY, Fla. - Tampa Mayor Jane Castor walked into the Tampa Police Department headquarters Tuesd...

OCTOBER 2 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Jonas Johansson - Between pipes Monday Johansson will start Monday's preseason contest versus the Panthers, according to Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com.

Impact Johansson has struggled through exhibition play so far -- he's allowed 13 goals in the last two games. The 29-year-old appeared in 26 regular-season contests in 2023-24, posting a record of 12-7-5 with an .890 save percentage and a 3.37 GAA.

SEPTEMBER 30 • ROTOWIRE

Top 50 Right Now: Victor Hedman | NHL.com Victor Hedman ranked as the 12th-best player in the league

SEPTEMBER 29 • NHL.COM

Derrick Pouliot - Goes on waivers Pouliot was waived Sunday, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.

Impact Pouliot produced nine goals and 46 points across 64 regular-season contests for AHL Texas in 2023-24. The 30-year-old defender will probably spend most of the 2024-25 campaign with AHL Syracuse.

SEPTEMBER 29 • ROTOWIRE

Tobie Bisson - Hits waivers Bisson was placed on waivers Sunday for assignment to AHL Syracuse, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.

Impact Bisson spent the 2023-24 season with AHL Laval. The 27-year-old defenseman figures to fill a similar role for the Lightning in 2024-25. Bisson's yet to appear in an NHL game.

SEPTEMBER 29 • ROTOWIRE

Nashville Predators - Tampa Bay Lightning - Sep 28, 2024 | NHL.com NHL Gamecenter - Nashville Predators vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, Sep 28, 2024 - summary, stats, boxscore, play by play, recap and more.

SEPTEMBER 29 • NHL.COM

Brandon Halverson - Attempting NHL comeback Halverson is attempting an NHL comeback with the Lightning.

Impact Halverson was taken by the Rangers two rounds before Igor Shesterkin in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, but hasn't played in the NHL since his lone game for them in 2018. Since then, he played in the ECHL and in Germany's second division before earning an AHL contract with Syracuse last season. Halverson split his time between the AHL and ECHL in 2023-24, but was Syracuse's starter in the Calder Cup Playoffs. He's a long-shot, but he has a dream.

SEPTEMBER 29 • ROTOWIRE

Jake Guentzel - Ready for top-line role Guentzel will skate on the Lightning's top line with Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point.

Impact "There is a lot of pressure on me," Guentzel told The Athletic. "But that's what makes it fun. I'm ready for this. I've learned a lot over the years." The pressure is on for Guentzel, who was signed to ostensibly replace former captain, Steven Stamkos. But he proved he was more than Sidney Crosby's wing man once he was traded to Carolina last season. Guentzel stepped up his output, producing 25 points in 17 games with the Canes and then adding another nine in 11 postseason contests. The winger will benefit tremendously from the elite playmaking of Kucherov, who put up 100 assists last season. Guentzel's best season came in 2021-22 when he scored 40 goals and 84 points. A career year may be in the mix.

SEPTEMBER 29 • ROTOWIRE

Jonas Johansson - Set to start Saturday Johansson will guard the road goal in Saturday's preseason game against Nashville, per the NHL media site.

Impact Johansson will look for a better result after allowing seven goals on 26 shots in Wednesday's 8-7 win over Florida. Regardless of how he does in the preseason, though, Johansson is penciled in to start the campaign as Tampa Bay's No. 2 goaltender behind Andrei Vasilevskiy.

SEPTEMBER 28 • ROTOWIRE

Hurricane Forces Tampa Bay Lightning To Postpone Pre-Season Game Vs. Predators Hurricane Helene roared into Florida Thursday night. As the Tampa Bay region recovers, the Lightning’s home game against the Nashville Preda...

SEPTEMBER 27 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Andrei Vasilevskiy - Nearing milestone in wins Vasilevskiy enters this season seven wins from reaching 300 in his career.

Impact On 39 goalies in NHL history have hit that milestone. Vasilevskiy, who just turned 30, has already had an impressive career. He has two Stanley Cups, one Vezina Trophy, one Conn Smythe, two First All-Star Team nods and five All-Star honors overall. Vasilevskiy's resume is about to get a whole lot longer.

SEPTEMBER 27 • ROTOWIRE

J.J. Moser - Playing on top pair Moser has been skating with Victor Hedman on the Lightning's top pair this preseason.

Impact Moser plays a strong defensive game, and he's only 24. And in a strong system, he'll turn that solid game into some offense, too. Moser put up 31 points, including eight goals, in 82 games in 2022-23, and followed that up with 26 in 80 games last season. That's impressive considering it was in Arizona. A career season may be ahead for Moser.

SEPTEMBER 27 • ROTOWIRE

Conor Geekie - Dominant in preseason win Geekie scored two goals and an assist in Wednesday's 8-7 preseason win over Florida.

Impact Geekie was the most noticeable Bolt on the ice. His first goal was a wraparound power-play marker after stealing the puck behind the Florida goal. But it was the second snipe that got fans out of their seats. In the final seconds of the game, Geekie when end-to-end, danced wide and wired a shot over Keith Appleby to seal the win. It was a dominant performance for the young pivot, but it remains to be seen where he will start the season.

SEPTEMBER 27 • ROTOWIRE