Tampa Bay Lightning: Injuries Prevalent Halfway Through Season
By Lane Fahey
Dan Girardi leaves the game after blocking the puck with his head.
Two games after Callahan’s return, Lightning defenseman Dan Girardi takes a puck to the head and leaves the game against the Detroit Red Wings.
Girardi scores his third goal of the season in this game. He also records his eighth assist of the season, off of a Tyler Johnson wrist shot. The game was looking pretty good offense wise for the defenseman until a shot got a little too close for comfort.
At first, it does not look pretty. Girardi immediately falls to the ice after attempting to block a shot from Red Wings forward Martin Frk. The puck hits the side of Girardi’s head, and doctors rush to help.
Luckily, Girardi was able to skate on his own. The Bolts also are able to win the game against the Red Wings, 5-2. Girardi will look to return to the lineup after the Lightning’s six-day bye week.
Girardi is on a two-year contract, $3 million each year after signing in the offseason. The defenseman brings leadership to a young team, and experience in the offseason. Girardi helped the New York Rangers move on to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2014.
The Rangers bought out Girardi’s contract, which had three more years remaining. He spent 11 seasons with the Rangers, before coming to Tampa Bay.
Despite a brief injury, Girardi is a defenseman the Bolts depend on to win games. With a six-day break, Girardi should be ready to go to help fill space after the Lightning’s most recent injury: Victor Hedman.