Brayden Point's Undisclosed Injury Just Handed the Lightning Another Roster Headache
Hopefully, it is not too serious but, unfortunately, he may miss some time. - Jon Cooper
The ’s medical staff is going to need a bigger waiting room.
Star center dipped out of Sunday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets with an undisclosed injury and never came back. Head coach Jon Cooper hit us with the classic NHL update afterward, saying he hopes it is not too serious but that Point will likely miss some time.
Point logged just five and a half minutes of ice time and two shots before calling it a night. The went on to lose 4-3 after Mark Scheifele buried a power-play goal with two seconds left in the third period. That is exactly the kind of gut-punch finish you want when your top-line center is already in the locker room getting evaluated.
Losing Point is a massive problem for a team that is already running out of healthy bodies. Anthony Cirelli and Ryan McDonagh are already sidelined, meaning the Tampa Bay roster is starting to look less like a hockey team and more like a triage center.
Point has been his usual dominant self this season, racking up five goals and 11 assists through 17 games. You do not just replace a guy who has four 40-goal seasons and a history of turning into an absolute menace in the playoffs.
Tampa Bay is sitting at a very respectable 11-4-2 right now, but this is where the depth gets tested. Anyone looking at the on the betting board is going to have to factor in a massive hole down the middle.
They head to Buffalo to play the on Tuesday. Until we get a real timeline on Point, expect the to be shuffling lines like a desperate blackjack dealer.