Tampa Bay Lightning D Jason Garrison Misses Game With Illness
The Tampa Bay Lightning will be forced to take on the Arizona Coyotes tonight without the assistance of Lightning defenseman Jason Garrison.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have endured more than any team’s fair share of injuries and illnesses this season. In fact, it has become almost laughable; not because the situation is in any way funny, but because it’s all Lightning fans can do to keep from crying as of late.
The Lightning has reached a pivotal time in the season. If the Bolts can’t manage to find some semblance of success over the course of their current six-game road trip, it may be time to cease looking forward towards the postseason and look towards how the team can improve next season.
Tonight, the Tampa Bay Lightning continues the aforementioned road trip with a stop at the Gila River Arena to take on former Lightning goaltender Mike Smith and the Arizona Coyotes. For those of you who are keeping score, the Arizona Coyotes are the next to last team in the National Hockey League right now.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Unfortunately, the Lightning will make their way into Coyotes country without the assistance of another of the team’s defensive players. According to Tampa Bay Lightning Beat Writer Bryan Burns, the Lightning will be without defenseman Jason Garrison, who is suffering from an illness.
It seems there is something going around the Lightning locker room right now. An illness also caused Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman to miss two games, starting on January 16th as the Lightning took on the Los Angeles Kings.
The unfortunate fact of the matter is when the weather changes, people tend to get sick. When players are constantly in such close proximity of one another, there is a higher rate of probability it will spread throughout the locker room. It hurts that much more to a team like the Lightning who are suffering in so many different arenas right now.
Regrettably, Jason Garrison is just the latest name to be added to the Tampa Bay Lightning’s list of players unable to take the ice with their teammates. Judging by the way things have been going as of late, he more than likely won’t be the last.
Next: Lightning Reach A Turning Point In Season
No matter which way the Lightning’s injury/illness situation plays out over the course of the remainder of the season, the Lightning simply must find a way to get back to basics and start winning games. If not, the team will be looking towards next season instead of the postseason.