Things were starting to cook for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second game against the Philadelphia Flyers in three nights. After they made it through a tight-checking first period with a 1-0 lead thanks to an early goal by Pontus Holmberg, they doubled the lead just 30 seconds into the second period when Jake Guentzel deflected home a shot from Erik Cernak.
Four minutes later, Brayden Point swatted home a rebound on the power play and it appeared the rout was on for the second game in a row. Unfortunately, Point wasn’t able to celebrate his 11th goal of the season as he was too busy grabbing his right knee.
Cam York had crashed the net to help out his goaltender Dan Vladar and ended up on his hands and knees. As he pivoted on the ice, Point’s leg was caught underneath him and the Lightning forward fell backward, bending his leg awkwardly.
He wasn’t able to put any weight on his leg as he was helped off the ice and back to the trainer’s room. He wouldn’t return for the rest of the game.
It’s a tough moment for Point who, following a slow start to the season, was back up to his old scoring self. Since missing a few games at the end of November with an injury, he had 7 goals and 11 assists in 15 games.
Injuries continue to be an issue for the Lightning, who are still missing Victor Hedman, Ryan McDonagh, Erik Cernak and Emil Lilleberg on defense. Point, Brandon Hagel, Zemgus Girgensons, and Andrei Vasilevskiy have also missed multiple games this season.
If the injury is long-term, Point could be in jeopardy of missing out on a huge career moment – the Olympics. Named to the Canadian team last summer, it would be Point’s first foray into the highest level of international hockey.
The Lightning had no official word on the severity of Point’s injury, but based on his reaction at the moment it happened, he may be out for a few games at least. Tampa Bay continues their road trip in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. At the moment, Jack Finley is their lone healthy forward that could enter the line-up. It is possible that defenseman Simon Lundmark makes his NHL debut if the team decides to with an 11/7 rotation.
Stay tuned to Raw Charge as news develops.
