Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jonathan Drouin is considered to be a game-time decision for the Lightning as they prepare to take on the Dallas Stars.
The Tampa Bay Lightning is no stranger to injuries and illnesses this season. In fact, there was a good portion of the season where the team would lose more people than they got back on any given day. Unfortunately, as the Bolts prepare to kick off their back-to-back weekend series against the Dallas Stars, another big name may be added to the injury/illness list.
In this particular case, it is an illness we speak of. According to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times, Lightning Head Coach Jon Cooper has stated Jonathan Drouin is a game-time decision tonight against the Dallas Stars. Apparently, Drouin has come down with a case of the flu.
Keeping this in mind, it seems like good news Drouin was not at the team’s optional skate this morning. The absolute last thing the Tampa Bay Lightning needs at this point is for an epidemic to sweep through the locker room like seasons past.
Tampa Bay Lightning
As one could easily imagine, this is not something the Tampa Bay Lightning or their fans are looking forward to. In the even Drouin is not ready to play when the puck drops tonight, the Bolts will be taking the ice without one of the strongest goal scorers and playmakers on the team.
Over the course of his last five games, Drouin has brought home two goals and two assists for a total of four points. Included in those last five games was a tremendous multi-point night on February 7th in the Lightning’s 5-0 rout of the Los Angeles Kings.
Up until this point, Drouin has played in 48 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning. In this amount of time, the 21-year-old sniper has brought home 16 goals and 19 assists for a total of 35 points. These numbers place him in a three-way tie for second place on the team in goals and third place on the team in overall points.
The Tampa Bay Lightning has been down this road before, and we’re not just talking about this season. Injuries and illnesses are an unfortunate part of the game. Whether or not Jonathan Drouin is able to take the ice with his teammates tonight, the Lightning has a job to do.
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Heading into a back-to-back weekend series is difficult enough, but having to do it after a week-long break is a whole other story. The Lightning needs to take the chemistry and momentum they’ve built over the last four games and use it to kickstart their game tonight in Dallas. If they can accomplish this, they’ll be in good shape.