Lightning juggle lines in practice as injured player returns
Posted October 22, 2025
After an off day (at least on the ice) the Tampa Bay Lightning returned to practice on Tuesday with a little different look to their lines. It was encouraging to see a couple of faces skating regular shifts again as Nikita Kucherov returned from his illness and Zemgus Girgensons, out since the pre-season, took regular shifts on the fourth line.
Is this what things are going to look like on Thursday when the Chicago Blackhawks are in town to start the Lightning’s three-games-in-four-days stretch? Possibly. A decision will have to be made on the fourth line between Curtis Douglas and Jack Finley, but other than that, it wouldn’t be surprising if the game starts with something very similar to this line-up.
Let’s start with the first line. After a few games with Anthony Cirelli and Gage Goncalves on the second line, Jake Guentzel, who might be the Lightning’s best player through the first six games, is reunited with Brayden Point. Goncalves, who has most definitely not been the best player on the team, gets a look with them. It is a quizzical pairing considering Goncalves has spent most of his brief NHL career in a middle-to-bottom-six role.
He does show glimpses of being a playmaker and could benefit from the finishing skills of Guentzel and Point, but he will have to make sure to play reasonably in his own zone, something that hasn’t been the case quite as much this season as we’ve seen in the past. The coaching staff is giving him a chance to play to his strengths, and it’s up to him to make the most of the opportunity.
With The Portuguese Pistol on the Point line, that reunites Nikita Kucherov with Cirelli and Brandon Hagel. A very compelling argument can be had that this was the Lightning’s best trio last year, at least when it comes to those fabulous underlying possession stats.
In just over 204 minutes together the trio posted a 13-7 goals advantage, controlled 69.54% of the scoring chances, and a whopping 75.71% of the high-danger chances. Having the defensive acumen of Anthony Cirelli tempers some of Kucherov’s more reckless tendencies, or at the very least, offsets them. Meanwhile Kucherov’s ability to generate offense is suited to the crash-the-net style that Cirelli and Hagel employ on a sometimes literal basis.
The Lightning have seemingly found something with the Oliver Bjorkstrand, Yanni Gourde, and Pontus Holmberg line. In their 40:28 of ice time together (the most of any combination at 5v5 this season), they’ve posted a 3-0 edge in goals and a 57.14% edge in scoring chances. It’s the blend of offense and defensive responsibility that the Lightning have been looking for from a third line for the last couple of seasons, so it’s no surprise that Coach Jon Cooper has kept them together during the team’s recent scoring slump.
The key to their success has been limiting the chances of the opposition. Among lines across the NHL that have spent more than 40 minutes together, they rank second in expected goals against according to Evolving Hockey. Only Florida’s trio of Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen, and Sam Reinhart have been better at denying offense, and that trio was a key part to the Panthers’ run to the Stanley Cup last season.
As for the fourth line, well, it’s going to be the hit anyone in a different uniform line as currently constructed, especially if Curtis Douglas cycles into the game. Girgensons was playing well in the pre-season prior to his injury, and the Lightning will need him to carry that over into the regular season when he returns if they are going to extract any offense whatsoever out of them.
There was no real change on the defensive sign, which indicates Charle-Edouard D’Astous will likely start his NHL career as the seventh defenseman.
After practice, Coach Cooper updated the media in regards to the injured players, stating that Max Crozier isn’t likely to return during this next stretch of games, but he is hoping that Girgensons is back for the weekend. That would indicate that Jack Finley gets at least one more game at center unless the Lightning make a recall prior to their game on Thursday.
Two weeks into the season and the Lightning are still working on the best combinations for their players. It’s not unusual, and they aren’t the only team still searching for the best mix, but it is something that they need to get sorted in a hurry in order to start working their way back up the standings.
Brashard Smith is starting to earn a real role in Chiefs offense
The Kansas City Chiefs obliterated the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Hilarious stats and rare feats aimed at the Raiders certainly made this division beatdown even more exciting for Chiefs fans. Kansas City has regained its high-flying offense over the last month or so, and Patrick Mahomes is playing at a tremendous level. That has resulted in many of K.C.'s weapons beginning to get in a groove.
Yet it's important to consider some players who aren't among the top options on offense, yet whose presence is crucial in smaller ways. That's held true for rookie running back Brashard Smith.
Smith is not the top running back on the depth chart. But as the offense has continued to improve, he has been jumping out with his handful of touches. The amount of chances he is getting has increased as a result. In turn, the snap counts for Brashard Smith are noticeably important to monitor moving forward as well.
The Chiefs gave Smith 19 total touches on Sunday. Against the Raiders, he had 39 rushing yards and 42 receiving yards. That equates to roughly 4.26 yards per touch. Smith's yards and efficiency are one thing to admire from the box score.
Brashard Smith continues to pop noticeably at running back for the Chiefs.
However, the ways in which he is creating positive gains are what are truly exciting for Kansas City's offense moving forward. Smith displayed tough, physical running when given some carries against the Raiders. He fought through contact to work and find extra hidden yards. In some cases, that was the difference between converting for a first down or not against the Raiders.
We know his initial college football history as a pass catcher. But when watching him after the catch, Smith comes off as very instinctual. He knows where the leverage is while he works upfield. Elsewhere, Smith has done well not to waste time and space once the ball is in his hands.
Smith may not be fully developed at running back right now. Whenever he enters the game, though, there is a buzz about how the Chiefs will go about deploying him. And when he does get opportunities, it feels like Smith takes it and churns out a positive gain in a more entertaining way than expected.
This initial push from Smith from the early point of his career could come in handy both this season and moving forward. Who knows how much the Chiefs believed he would be in this position as someone worth counting on seven games into his rookie year. But also, Kansas City can navigate the running back waters a little more comfortably this offseason with decisions at the position looming.
Smith is becoming a trusted tertiary option in the Chiefs' offense, which isn't a given for any young player trying to break into Patrick Mahomes' list of preferred targets. If Brashard Smith can continue to produce in this role, he will be a critical go-to option in the quick passing game and in the screen game when Kansas City reaches the most vital part of the season.
