Kristers Gudlevskis has played under brighter lights, and for much-bigger stakes, than he will Saturday night in Estero.
But with the Lightning goaltender knows his start against Nashville at Germain Arena at 7 p.m. will kick-start what's likely to be a month-long audition for a spot in the NHL.
With backup goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy out 2-3 months following vascular surgery, Gudlevskis is the leading in-house candidate to temporarily fill in behind starter Ben Bishop when the season opens Oct. 8.
But Adam Wilcox, the former University of Minnesota star, and veteran Ray Emery, on a training camp tryout, will also get a look.