Anthony Cirelli Returns to Lightning Lineup Against Avalanche

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Anthony Cirelli will return to the lineup Friday against the Colorado Avalanche. The 29-year-old exited Tuesday’s 6-2 win over Vegas after the second period. Cirelli scored twice before his night ended. 

Friday’s matchup with Colorado marks the first half of the Lightning’s first back-to-back of the season. Tampa Bay will face the Utah Mammoth on Saturday to close out the road trip, with both opponents among the top teams in their division.

“Two really good teams. There's not much more to it,” Brando Hagel said. “We just have to keep building as a group every day in practice, and then after every game. We'll see how it goes. I'm sure the compete and the battle level will be there.”

Nikita Kucherov is one point away from becoming the Tampa Bay Lightning’s all-time leading scorer.

Kucherov tied Steven Stamkos at 1,137 career points with a three-point performance in Tuesday’s win over Vegas.

Stamkos, now in his third season with the Nashville Predators, recorded 1,137 points (555 goals, 582 assists) in 1,082 games with Tampa Bay.