Lightning's Anthony Cirelli: More offense needed this season
Rotowire
Cirelli will be under pressure to add more offense to a Lightning squad that lost key depth contributors in the offseason.
There's a big offensive drop-off at forward after Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Steven Stamkos and Brandon Hagel, so Cirelli will need to pick up some of the scoring that the departed Alex Killorn put up. Cirelli is best known for his penalty killing, and since his debut (late 2018), he has scored 11 shorthanded goals. The next closest contributor for the Lightning since that time has just three. Cirelli's best season (44 points) came in 2019-20, and he scored at a 41-point pace (29 in 58 games) after returning from injury last season. His offensive skills don't leap off the page, but he works hard. The pressure is on for Cirelli to deliver 50-55 points. It remains to be seen if he can do it.
Lightning's Anthony Cirelli: Six points in six playoff games
Rotowire
Cirelli picked up an assist in Saturday's 2-1 overtime loss to Toronto in Game 6.
Cirelli heads into the offseason after putting up six points (three goals, three assists) in six games against the Maple Leafs. He, Alex Killorn and Brandon Hagel had a strong postseason as a line, but the helper came when Bolts coach Jon Cooper juggled lines and put Steven Stamkos with Cirelli and Killorn. Next season, Cirelli is likely to have at least one new linemate, as Killorn is a UFA heading into the summer.
Lightning's Anthony Cirelli: Two-point night in win
Rotowire
Cirelli scored a goal and added an assist in Thursday's 4-2 win over Toronto in Game 5.
Cirelli punched in a rebound at the top of the goal crease 26 seconds after Morgan Rielly had opened the scoring in the first period. It was his third goal and fifth point (three goals, two assists) in five postseason games.
... See More... See Less
Lightning's Anthony Cirelli: Trying to slow down Auston Matthews
Rotowire
Cirelli has three points (one goal, two assists) in four playoff games this season.
While he was held off the scoresheet in Tampa's Game 4 loss on Monday, Cirelli and his linemates Alex Killorn and Brandon Hagel were all over the ice. Killorn scored twice and Hagel picked up an assist. Cirelli carries most of the heavy checking load to shutdown Auston Matthews, but he couldn't stop AM34 in the third period Monday when the Leafs' star led a comeback with two goals. Cirelli will likely be tapped to try to slow Matthews down in Game 5 on Thursday and that effort could suppress his offense.
... See More... See Less
Lightning's Anthony Cirelli: Two points in Game 1 road win
Rotowire
Cirelli produced a goal and a power-play assist in Tuesday's 7-3 Game 1 win over the Maple Leafs.
Cirelli put the Lightning ahead 2-0 early before assisting on the second of Tampa Bay's four power-play goals. He also had a team-high four blocked shots, as his strong two-way game was on full display. Cirelli has been used in more of a defensive role in past playoff runs -- he has only 36 points in 93 postseason games -- but now that the Lightning have to trot out a salary cap-compliant roster, Cirelli will be counted upon to produce more offense.
... See More... See Less
Lightning's Anthony Cirelli: Set to play Saturday
Rotowire
Cirelli (lower body) is expected to play Saturday versus the Senators, Gabby Shirley of Bally Sports Florida reports.
Cirelli will draw in after missing one game with the injury. He's been limited to four assists over his last 10 contests, though he also has a plus-2 rating in that span. Cirelli is expected to center the third line.
... See More... See Less
Lightning's Anthony Cirelli: Unavailable Thursday
Rotowire
Cirelli (lower body) won't play Thursday versus the Islanders, Gabby Shirley of Bally Sports Florida reports.
Cirelli was injured in the second period of Wednesday's game versus the Rangers. With Cirelli out, Mikey Eyssimont will likely draw into the lineup if the Lightning opt for the traditional 12 forwards.
... See More... See Less
Lightning's Anthony Cirelli: Can't finish game
Rotowire
Cirelli (undisclosed) didn't finish Wednesday's game versus the Rangers, Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site reports.
Cirelli left after an injury in the second period and didn't play in the third. He had one assist in 10:34 of ice time prior to his exit. The 25-year-old has racked up 28 points through 55 contests in a middle-six role this season. If he can't play Thursday versus the Islanders, Mikey Eyssimont will likely draw into the lineup.
... See More... See Less
Lightning's Anthony Cirelli: Notches two assists
Rotowire
Cirelli posted two assists and three shots in the Lightning's 5-1 win over the Capitals on Thursday.
Cirelli picked up helpers on both of Patrick Maroon's goals. This performance snaps a four-game point drought as he looks to get back on track offensively. On the season, Cirelli has 11 goals and 27 points in 53 games.
... See More... See Less
Lightning's Anthony Cirelli: Good to go
Rotowire
Cirelli (upper body) will play Tuesday against New Jersey, Gabby Shirley of Bally Sports Florida reports.
Cirelli was injured late in the first period versus Winnipeg on Sunday following an illegal check to the head from Mark Scheifele. The Lightning forward won't miss any additional action after being a full participant in Tuesday's morning skate. Cirelli has registered 10 goals, 23 points and 90 shots on net in 44 games this season.
... See More... See Less
Lightning's Anthony Cirelli: No update after game
Rotowire
Head coach Jon Cooper did not have an update on Cirelli (upper body) after Sunday's loss to Winnipeg, Gabby Shirley of Bally Sports Florida reports.
"Honestly, I don't know yet. It's too early to tell," said Cooper when asked about Cirelli's availability for Tuesday's game in New Jersey. Cirelli scored two points in 10:40 of ice time before leaving Sunday.
... See More... See Less
Lightning's Anthony Cirelli: Goal and assist Sunday
Rotowire
Cirelli tallied a goal and an assist in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Jets.
Cirelli set up Alex Killorn's opening goal with a nifty backhand feed in the first period before scoring a shorthanded goal on a breakaway in the third. The 25-year-old center will look to build on his performance Sunday, as he came into the game with just one point in his previous seven contests. Cirelli is up to 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists) through 44 games this season.
... See More... See Less
Lightning's Anthony Cirelli: Scores goal in loss to Pittsburgh
Rotowire
Cirelli found the back of the net in a 7-3 loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Cirelli's marker came at 16:06 of the first period to tie the game at 1-1. He has nine goals and 20 points in 36 contests this season. Cirelli has provided three goals over his last four outings.
... See More... See Less
Lightning's Anthony Cirelli: Stays warm with goal
Rotowire
Cirelli scored a goal on two shots in Tuesday's 4-3 shootout win over the Avalanche.
Cirelli tied the game at 2-2 early in the third period. The 25-year-old has three goals and three helpers over his last three games, a sudden burst of offense compared to the five-game drought that preceded it. The forward has six tallies, 11 helpers, 66 shots on net, 26 blocked shots, 25 PIM and a plus-11 rating through 30 contests overall.
... See More... See Less
Lightning's Anthony Cirelli: Second straight multi-point game
Rotowire
Cirelli scored twice and added an assist in a 3-1 win over Dallas on Saturday.
The first snipe came on a breakaway after Brandon Hagel sprung him with a nifty pass past Stars' defender Esa Lindell. Cirelli then scored on a deflection in the slot with 44 seconds left to put the Bolts up 2-1. He then returned the favor and helped set up Hagel for an empty netter to seal the game. Cirelli has struggled to put up offense since his return from injury, but this is his second straight multi-point game. It could be a harbinger of good things to come for fantasy managers.
... See More... See Less
Lightning's Anthony Cirelli: Snaps five-game point drought
Rotowire
Cirelli had two assists in a 5-0 win over Colorado on Thursday.
They were his first points in five games. Cirelli put up seven points in his first seven games when he returned from injury at the beginning of December, but in 21 games since then, he only has six points (two goals, four assists). Cirelli continues to be a solid defensive forward who is strong at the dot, but his lack of offense is making him an impossible fantasy play right now.
... See More... See Less
Lightning's Anthony Cirelli: Finds back of net Saturday
Rotowire
Cirelli scored his third goal of the season in Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Flames.
The 25-year-old brought Tampa Bay to within a goal with just over four minutes left in the third period by banging in the rebound on a Victor Hedman point shot, but Calgary scored twice into an empty net as the Bolts pushed for an equalizer. Cirelli's production cratered over the last few weeks in December, but he may be coming around in January as he's scored two of his three goals on the season, and four points in total, over the last eight games.
