Game Preview: The Battle of Florida, Preseason Round Two, Gives Bolts' Prospects Last Chance to Make an Impression
The Tampa Bay Lightning wrapped up their final preseason warm-up Saturday morning before heading to South Florida to face the Florida Panthers. The game will cap a grueling two weeks of training camp, where 67 players vied for a spot on the team's 23-player roster.
The Bolts lost the first of two matchups Thursday night at Benchmark International Arena, 5-3, in a game featuring a mix of regular and prospective players. Tonight, the Lightning will feature mostly prospects on the ice, with a few core team members sprinkled in.
Florida brought a team of prospects to Tampa and will play a similar grouping tonight at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL.
Tonight will feel very different from Thursday night, as both teams will have players still hoping for a chance to make their respective rosters.
"There's a group of guys that are really fighting to make the team, and they have another game left," Coach Jon Cooper said Thursday night. "My thing is: are they trying to do the right things? Are they competing hard?"
Veterans like Gage Goncalves, Zemgus Girgensons, and Max Crozier have spent a lot of ice time with the younger prospects, and tonight will be the final chance for those new players to make an impression on the organization.
"We have a lot of new guys this year," Gonçalves said Saturday speaking to Thunderstruck Sports. "It was nice to talk to them, try to teach them about camp, answer questions about drills. Be there for them."
Sam O'Reilly is one of those players trying to earn a spot on the opening day roster, especially with injured Yanni Gourde and Dominic James unavailable to start the season. O'Reilly has impressed the team and pundits this week with his performances, including a goal and an assist in three games.
The Toronto native will be back in the lineup tonight, having a chance to play in all four preseason games.
"Obviously, it's a short camp," O'Reilly said Saturday morning. "So try and give it your all every game like it's your last. I'm just trying to help the team win. That's the biggest thing. "
"So whether that's goals or assists or winning faceoffs, anything I can do to help the team will benefit everybody."
Geekie Continues to Have Stellar Training Camp
This time last year, Bolts center Conor Geekie was one of those youngsters trying to make an impression on the Lightning coaches and staff.
Seeing some success after being dealt to Tampa Bay by the then-Utah Hockey Club in June 2024, Geekie took a step back this past season.
After playing 52 games for Tampa Bay in 2024-25, Geekie played only 14 games last season, spending the majority of his time in AHL-affiliate Syracuse. That motivation has brought Geekie to 2026 Camp with unmatched fire and drive to secure a permanent roster spot with the Lightning in 2026-27.
"Oh yeah, I'm a lot better than I was (last year), Geekie said on Saturday. "You know, I learned a lot the past year being in Syracuse and throughout the summer."
This week has been a statement week for Geekie on the ice. In three preseason games, the 22-year-old has two goals on eight shots, with seven hits, including Sunday's game-winner against Nashville.
Geekie was 7-of-12 (58.3%) from the faceoff dot in the preseason, beating out the likes of Steven Stankos and Ryan O'Reilly Tuesday night.
Like O'Reilly, he will play in all four preseason games, giving Cooper and his coaching staff plenty to evaluate before roster decisions are announced on Monday. If anything, last year was a hard learning lesson for Geekie, and one he said he needed.
Geekie hopes his hard work and gritty performance in training camp will be rewarded.
"I'm just trying to take what I learned and put it all together," he said to Thunderstruck Sports. "And, you know, hopefully make the team."
Bolts Trade Johansson to Ottawa
Former Lightning backup goalie Jonas Johansson was traded to the Ottawa Senators, Bolts General Manager Julien BriseBois announced late Friday evening, for future considerations.
Johansson was displaced as Andrei Vasilevskiy's backup in July when the team acquired Dennis Hildeby from Toronto in a trade for Nick Paul. At the time of the trade, BriseBois stated the team would do everything it could to find Johanssen a new home.
As training camp neared its close this week, the Lightning placed Johansson on waivers and then relegated him to the Syracuse Crunch when he went unclaimed.
The seven-year veteran went 11-10-2 with a 3.29 goals-against average and an .884 save percentage in 25 games for Tampa Bay last season.
Up Next
The Tampa Bay Lightning face the Florida Panthers Saturday evening at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL. Game time is 6 pm.
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