Cirelli sustained an upper-body injury 16 days ago in a 5-2 loss at Florida February 11 and was listed as week-to-week at the time of the injury.
"I'll get word here when we go back in (from media availability), but all signs are pointing to him being in," head coach Jon Cooper said.
The Lightning should also have Erik Cernak available to them for tonight's contest at AMALIE Arena against the Stars, the start of a two-game set with the second being played Tuesday in Dallas. Cernak blocked a shot with his foot midway through the second period of Thursday's 3-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes and didn't return, the team announcing he had sustained a lower-body injury.
Cernak was also a full participant at morning skate and wearing a normal jersey.
"A great sight to see him out there," said Cernak's D partner Ryan McDonagh. "You never know with those things. You take a shot in the foot, it could go one way, it could go the other. Thankfully, he's right back out there, and he's going to do whatever he can to play regardless of what happens with this injury there. It's great to see him right back out there and available here."
Cirelli was having a breakout season offensively prior to getting hurt, contributing four goals and 10 points through 12 games. He's Tampa Bay's top two-way forward, earning enough votes to place fourth for the Selke Trophy last season.
Cernak has been a mainstay on the right side of the defense, pairing with McDonagh to form the team's shutdown duo. He's also one of the team's more reliable penalty killers, helping that unit to an 86.9 percent penalty kill rate, fifth best in the NHL.
"All those guys, Rutta, Mac, Heddy, Sergy, they've done a phenomenal job on the PK," Cooper said. "It's a tough spot to be in because you have to eat some pucks, and boy did those guys eat pucks the other night. So, we're pretty fortunate with (Cernak) and Mac and some of these guys that blocked some big shots for us that it looks like they're going to be okay and able to play. When you don't have your game going like clearly we didn't the other night, you need some special efforts to pull you through and those guys, their shot blocking was it."
The Lightning are playing the Stars for the first time since Tampa Bay lifted the Stanley Cup after defeating Dallas 2-0 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final September 28, 2020. The teams were previously scheduled for four games but had two postponed (Jan. 17 and 19) due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the Stars training camp and two more rescheduled (Feb 18 and 20) because of inclement throughout the state of Texas.
"It is kind of weird that this is game one of our series," Cooper said. "One of those years I guess. But, we've got to play them eight times, and now it's all condensed. Feels like we only have a little more than half our season left, and it's going to be a lot against this team. It's just a team you have to beat if you want to be playing deep into the season. One thing about Dallas, they're just hanging around. I think they're probably playing a little bit better than some of the results they've been getting. We've just got to make sure we're on top of things tonight."
