Tampa Bay Lightning Game Day Injury Update
They always say that when it rains, it pours. When it comes to injuries, it has definitely been a torrential downpour for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Here is the latest on the injuries plaguing our Bolts.
March 4, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Vincent Lecavalier (4) skates with the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Pittsburgh Penguins won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Vincent Lecavalier: After being knocked to the ice late in the game during the Lightning’s meeting with the Florida Panthers on March 12th; the captain has been sidelined with a Lower Body Injury, presumably his knee. He was officially placed on the injured reserve later that week. It would appear that the Captain is still on the mend, and will not be playing in tonight’s game.
In the 26 games that Vinny has played this season, he has scored 7 goals and earned 15 assists for a total of 22 points. He currently has a plus-1 rating.
Ryan Malone: Malone has been plagued by injuries this season. The first of which was on February 10th when he was placed on injured reserve with a Lower Body Injury. After missing a little of three weeks with this injury, he returned to action on March 7th as the Lightning took on the Winnipeg Jets.
Then, as the Lightning took on the Philadelphia Flyers on March 18th, Malone was plowed down by Flyers center Zac Rinaldo. Malone left the ice under his own volition, but almost immediately went down the tunnel to the Lightning locker room where he was evaluated, and deemed to have sustained an Upper Body Injury, presumably to his shoulder. This injury has resulted on Bugsy being placed back on the Injured Reserve List, and will not be participating in tonight’s game.
In the 16 games Malone has suited up for this season, he has scored 5 goals and 2 assists for a total of 7 points.
Benoit Pouliot: Pouliot has been on the sidelines since suffering an upper body injury, more specifically a shoulder injury, on March 2nd as the Lightning faced off with the Boston Bruins. It was assumed that he was almost prepared for a return to the lineup, as Pouliot skated with the team last week; however, it seems that he is not quite ready to go as of yet.
In the 21 games that the Alfred, Ontario, Canada native have played this season, he has scored 6 goals and earned 8 assists for a total of 14 points. He has a plus-7 rating.
Mar 20, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Anders Lindback (39) before the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Anders Lindback: The 6’6 goaltender took over for Mathieu Garon early in the second period during the Lightning’s matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 20th after Garon allowed 3 goals in the first 27 minutes of play. Shortly after Radko Gudas scored his first NHL goal on Leafs goalie James Reimer, while the cameras were still trained on Gudas, Lindback skated off the ice, and Garon skated back out to the goal. It was later revealed that Lindback had suffered a high ankle sprain, and would be placed on Injured Reserve. While the minimum period of 7 days is about to expire, it does not seem that the Gavle, Sweden native is ready to return to action just yet.
In the 21 games he defended this season, he has a 2.88 Goals Allowed Average and a Save Percentage of .903.
Pierre-Cedric Labrie: Labrie left the game halfway through the second period as the Lightning took on the Winnipeg Jets on March 24th. He did not return for the remainder of the game. It was later revealed that he would be sidelined with a Upper Body Injury. At this time, Nacho has not been placed on the Injured Reserve, and is still listed as Day-To-Day. However, he will not be available for the game tonight against Buffalo.
In the 11 games that the 6’3 LW has played this season, he has 1 assist, 22 hits, and 24 penalty minutes.
B.J. Crombeen: After accruing 22 minutes during the Lightning’s standoff with the Ottawa Senators in March 23rd, which included 2 fighting majors, an Instigator Penalty, and a Misconduct, Crombeen would miss the Lightning’s second half of its back to back weekend when they faced the Winnipeg Jets. It was originally believed that he was a healthy scratch for the game; however, it was later revealed that he had sustained a Lower Body Injury. While he is currently listed as Day-To-Day, Crombeen did not skate with the team this morning, and is not expected to participate in tonight’s game against Buffalo.
In the 30 games that he has played this season, the 6’2 RW has scored 1 goal and 6 assists for a total of 7 points. He currently has a plus-6 rating.
The Wrap Up
While it seems like half of the team is currently injured, I assure you that we have enough fire power in our arsenal to take on the Buffalo Sabres tonight. However, the Lightning are going to have to pick their battles carefully if they do not want to end up with another player on the Injured List. With 4 players on Injured Reserve, and another 2 listed as Day-To-Day, the Lightning really can’t afford to have anyone else go down.
What do you think the Bolts need to do to overcome the inordinate amount of injuries that the team has sustained lately? What can be done to prevent anyone else from going down? Let us know what YOU think in the comments below.
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