The Lightning placed Tomkins on waivers Thursday, per Chris Johnston of The Athletic.
This is great news for Andrei Vasilevskiy (back surgery) and his fantasy managers as he is expected to return to action Friday versus Carolina or Monday in Colorado. Tomkins was 1-2-0, giving up 10 goals on 90 shots in his three appearances. He will be returned to AHL Syracuse, should he pass through waivers.
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Lightning's Matt Tomkins: Hangs on for first NHL win
Rotowire
Tomkins turned aside 23 shots in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Canadiens.
The 29-year-old recorded his first career win in the NHL, but it nearly slipped through his fingers -- the Lightning handed Tomkins a 4-0 lead heading into the third period as they dominated play, but he then had to withstand a furious comeback attempt by the Habs that featured half of the home squad's 26 shots on the night. Tomkins' .889 save percentage through his first three starts this season isn't going to earn him more consistent playing time, but the Bolts seem content with his play so far as Jonas Johansson's backup.
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Lightning's Matt Tomkins: Starting in Montreal
Rotowire
Tomkins will guard the road goal versus the Canadiens on Tuesday, Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site reports.
Tomkins has lost his first two starts of the season, allowing seven goals on 64 shots. The 29-year-old will face a Canadiens team that has scored just seven goals during their three-game losing streak.
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Lightning's Matt Tomkins: Falls to Jackets
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Tomkins stopped 24 of 27 shots in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Blue Jackets.
Columbus' final goal was scored into an empty net. Tomkins didn't play poorly in his second career NHL start, but the Lightning offense had trouble getting going and couldn't find an equalizer after falling behind in the third period. The 29-year-old rookie will likely be back in net early next week when Tampa Bay plays back-to-back on a road trip that takes the team through Toronto and Montreal.
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Lightning's Matt Tomkins: Falls in NHL debut
Rotowire
Tomkins allowed four goals on 37 shots in Sunday's 5-2 loss against the Senators.
Tomkins made his NHL debut in the second leg of a back-to-back set. The former backstop for Farjestads BK Karlstad of the Swedish Hockey League just couldn't keep Brady Tkachuk (two goals) quiet. Jonas Johansson is likely to do most of the heavy lifting until Andrei Vasilevskiy is ready to return from back surgery in late November or early December. The Lightning do not have another back-to-back situation until Nov. 6-7, so it's uncertain when we'll see Tomkins again.
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Lightning's Matt Tomkins: Tending twine Sunday
Rotowire
Tomkins will guard the road goal Sunday against Ottawa, per Gabby Shirley of Bally Sports Florida.
Tomkins will get the second half of Tampa Bay's back-to-back after Jonas Johansson played in Saturday's 6-4 loss to Detroit. The 29-year-old Tomkins will make his NHL debut in Sunday's contest. Tomkins posted a 20-12-0 record with a 2.53 GAA and a .911 save percentage in 32 games for Farjestad BK of the SHL last season.
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Matt Tomkins: Pens deal overseas
Rotowire
Tomkins signed a one-year deal Friday to play with Frolunda of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), Brandon Cain of NHL.com reports.
Tomkins spent the last four seasons playing in the ECHL and AHL, where he most recently went 5-9-1 with an unsightly 3.21 GAA and .907 save percentage with Rockford. He'll get a chance in his age-27 season to get a taste of Swedish professional hockey, which will no doubt be an interesting next chapter in Tomkins' career.
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Blackhawks' Matt Tomkins: Waived by Chicago
Rotowire
The Blackhawks placed Tomkins on waivers Monday, Scott Powers of The Athletic reports.
Tomkins spent the entirety of the 2019-20 season in the minors, compiling a 5-7-1 record while posting a 3.12 GAA and .896 save percentage in 13 appearances with AHL Rockford. The 2012 seventh-round pick likely won't sniff the NHL unless Chicago's netminders are ravaged by injuries or illness during the upcoming campaign.
