Brandon Halverson, the Lightning's goaltender, is set to make his first NHL start against the Utah Hockey Club after a long delay of over seven years since his debut. He was called up from AHL Syracuse following Jonas Johansson's family emergency. Coach Jon Cooper praised Halverson's journey and resilience, noting that this opportunity is richly deserved. Halverson has been a standout in the AHL with a 2.32 goals-against average and a commendable save percentage of .913, making him the team's No. 1 goaltender after a successful season in Syracuse.

After experiencing injuries and even working on a farm at one point in his career, Halverson's return to pro hockey began with an ECHL contract with Orlando, where he excelled and earned his way back to the NHL. He has been a backup this season behind Andrei Vasilevskiy and will also serve as Vasilevskiy’s backup when the team faces off against Vegas soon after. Halverson's story is a testament to perseverance and the unpredictability of a professional athlete's journey.