The Tampa Bay Lightning will have to take on the Buffalo Sabres in a key divisional clash without two of their best players.
Forward Anthony Cirelli will not play in Monday's game due to injury and is listed as day to day, the team announced.
The Lightning will also be without Brandon Hagel against the Sabres, as the forward will miss a third straight game with an undisclosed injury.
Hagel and Cirelli sit third and fifth, respectively, in team scoring for the Lightning this season. The 27-year-old Hagel has recorded 35 goals and 38 assists in 69 games this season, while Cirelli has 23 goals and 29 assists in 68 games.
The timing is less than ideal for the Lightning, as they currently cling to a two-point lead in the Atlantic Division over both the Sabres and Montreal Canadiens.
Buffalo could pull even with the Lightning with a regulation win on Monday, but Tampa would still have a game in hand.
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