The Tampa Bay Lightning are close to bringing two key members of the team back into the picture. Head coach Jon Cooper, via Lightning reporter Gabby Shirley, provided updates on forward Dominic James and defenseman Emil Lilleberg.
The former isn’t back yet, but he is expected to be back with the team this week. James is currently assigned to the AHL, where he played two games with the Syracuse Crunch over the weekend.
He scored no points over those two games. It’s his first action of the season after recovering from a broken hand. It’s not too surprising, even if they’re minor league games.
Meanwhile, Emil Lilleberg is paying Tuesday night, but he’s healthy and available. Being a healthy scratch at least means he’ll be back at any time. His injury is currently undisclosed, but it’s kept him out since Oct. 3, when the Lightning picked up their first win of the season, taking down the Washington Capitals 3-1.
All of this is totally fine. The Lightning are on a roll. They’ve been finding success with a lineup that consists of 11 forwards and seven defensemen. In this regard, they’ve been playing with one fewer forward for the last four games, and that was with James already hurt.
Harkins is already in the AHL. That space is ready and waiting for when the time comes.
Max Crozier has been a solid option while Lilleberg is out, allowing them to opt for seven defensemen in the wake of an injury. In three games, he’s blocked six shots and made five hits. For good measure, he tallied two assists in the win against the Islanders on Saturday.
There is by no means a need to rush anything here.
Both skaters can have their chance to be as ready as they can be to come back. It’s hockey. It’s a physically taxing sport with virtually the entire season ahead. It’s better to sacrifice a game or two more now than later on.
Hildeby under the weather, up comes a third string
Everyone can exhale. Nobody is injured. According to Lightning Insider, backup goalie Dennis Hildeby may be under the weather. It hasn’t ruled him out entirely, but they brought in Mads Soogard just in case Hildeby can’t dress.
The goal is to make sure they have someone ready. The emergency backup goalie is not there for these situations. It’s for when no other goalie is an option. Soogard has a small track record in the NHL, but for a single game where he wouldn’t likely play at all, he’s fine to have around.
He’s played in 31 career games, 19 of which were during the 2022-23 season. He has a career .877 save percentage.
The Lightning take on the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. Puck drop is set for 7:15 p.m.
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