Vasilevskiy will be between the pipes for the Lightning when they aim to keep their season alive on Friday against the Canadiens. The former Conn Smythe winner allowed three goals on 24 shots in Game 5, as the Lightning suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat. Vasilevskiy and the Lightning enter action in Game 6 at -120 on the money line.
D'Astous has not played since suffering an undisclosed injury in Game One on April 19th, but appears to be nearing a return and could be an option on Friday for Game Six. The 28-year-old defenseman was impressive in his first NHL season, averaging 18:45 time-on-ice and scoring 29 points (6G / 23A) in 70 games.
Hedman will not play in the Lightning's must-win Game 6 on Friday, but is expected to be available in the near future if they're able to stay alive in Montreal. Hedman has not played since March 19th.
Geekie will slot in for Nick Paul, who is a late scratch due to an undisclosed injury. It's the first appearance for Geekie since the opening game of the series, where he registered two penalty minutes and zero points in just over eight minutes of ice time.
D'Astous has not played since suffering an undisclosed injury in Game One on April 19th, but could be nearing a return to the lineup as he was a game-time decision on Wednesday in Game Five. The 28-year-old defenseman was impressive in his first NHL season, averaging 18:45 time-on-ice and scoring 29 points (6G / 23A) in 70 games.
Earlier today, Vasilevskiy was named one of the three finalists for the Vezina trophy, but has yet to display his Vezina-calibre form this postseason. The 31-year-old goalie has an unspectacular 2.58 GAA and .882 SV% through four games (2-2-) in this first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens. Looking to take a 3-2 advantage in Game Five, Tampa Bay enters Wednesday's contest as a -154 home favourite.
D'Astous has not played since suffering an undisclosed injury in Game One on April 19th, but he could return to the lineup on Wednesday in Game Five. The 28-year-old defenseman was impressive in his first NHL season, averaging 18:45 time-on-ice and scoring 29 points (6G / 23A) in 70 games.
Vasilevskiy allowed three goals on 29 shots (.897 SV%) in Tampa Bay’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens, and may need to elevate his game to help his team even the series at 2-2. The 31-year-old Vasilveskiy has been serviceable thus far, but has yet to show off his Vezina-calibre form, posting a 2.76 GAA and .880 SV% through three games (1-2). Tampa Bay enters Game Four as slight -107 road favourites.
Crozier has been a healthy scratch for the first three games of the series but he is expected to replace Declan Carlile in the lineup for Game 4. Crozier, who had 10 points (1G / 9A) in 35 games this season, will be playing for the first time since April 15th.
D'Astous has been out since Game 1, but head coach Jon Cooper said that he should be "day-to-day" after Game 4, so he's nearing a return to the lineup. D'Astous' replacement Declan Carlile, has not registered a point and a minus-3 rating in two games.
After a shaky performance in the opening game of the series, Vasilevskiy returned to form and guided the Lightning to a 3-2 overtime victory in Game 2, allowing just a pair of goals on 27 shots. With the victory, the Lightning matched their playoff win total from a season ago when they were eliminated by the Panthers five games into the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Vasilevskiy and the Lightning remain slight favourites on the road as the series shifts back to Montreal, entering action tonight at -115 on the money line.
Holmberg has not played since suffering an upper-body injury in early April and will remain sidelined until, at earliest, the second round of the playoffs. The 27-year-old Swedish forward scored 22 points (11G / 11A) in 69 games this season.
Vasilevskiy will of course get the start in Game 2 on Tuesday as the Lightning look to even their series with the Habs at one game a piece. Vasilevskiy had a disappointing performance in Game 1's overtime loss, allowing four goals on just 19 shots. It was a continuation of a troubling playoff trend for the Lightning netminder, who owns a 4-8-4 record and an .882 SV% across his last three post-seasons. Vasilevskiy and the Lightning are the betting favourites on Tuesday despite the 1-0 series deficit, as they enter action at -180 on the money line.
Tampa Bay will insert some physicality into its lineup in Game Two, with Sabourin drawing in for his postseason debut. The 33-year-old Sabourin recorded five points (1G / 4A), 63 hits, and 89 penalty minutes in 26 games this season. Conor Geekie will be a healthy scratch to accommodate the lineup change.
Scott Sabourin will draw into Tampa Bay's lineup for Game Two on Tuesday, sending Geekie to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 21-year-old Geekie played 8:12 time-on-ice and recorded two penalty minutes in Game One. He had three points (1G / 2A) in 14 games this season.
D'Astous exited Game One on Sunday after only 9:35 time-on-ice due to an undisclosed injury and will not play in Game Two. The 28-year-old defenseman, coming of his first NHL season, scoring 29 points (6G / 23A) in 70 games. Declan Carlile will draw in as D'Astous' replacement.
Hedman has not played in over a month and will likely remain sidelined for Tampa Bay's entire first-round playoff series. The 35-year-old Swedish defenseman has been plagued with injuries this year, playing a career-low 33 games and tallying a career-low 17 points (1G / 16A).
D'Astous was limited to only 9:35 time-on-ice in Game One, exiting with an undisclosed injury, and is unlikely to play in Game Two. The 27-year-old first-year NHLer, averaged 18:45 time-on-ice and scored 29 points (6G / 23A) in 70 games this season.
