Max Crozier is back with the Tampa Bay Lightning after the organization announced he had been recalled prior to their afternoon tilt with the New York Islanders. It’s Crozier’s second stint with the Bolts as he appeared in seven games with them at the end of January when the Lightning were dealing with similar issues on the blue line.
It is possible that this is a precautionary move on the teams part until they determine the status of Erik Cernak, who missed their last game with an illness, and Haydn Fleury, who left that game early after a hit from Tom Wilson.
Coach Cooper didn’t have a status on Fleury after the game and the team hasn’t practiced since the game against the Capitals. With the team playing a back-to-back this weekend, they needed another defenseman on hand in case either Cernak or Fleury are unable to go. Crozier did not play in the Crunch’s 2-1 victory over the Utica Comets on Friday night, so he should be fresh if called on this afternoon.
Crozier had a strong first stint with the Lightning as he recorded two assists while playing 14:39 per game, mostly on a pairing with fellow rookie Emil Lilleberg. The pairing had a positive goal differential (4-3) in almost 81 minutes together on the ice while also producing a 55.53% expected goals share.
In his first full season with the Crunch, the Providence College product has 1 goal and 7 assists after adding a helper in seven games since being re-assigned. Crozier was ranked 19th in our most recent Top 25 under 25.
