Tampa Bay Lightning full injury report reveals multiple injuries including 'mangled finger'
In the few days after the Stanley Cup is awarded, teams make public the brutal injuries their players fought through in the playoffs. When a team is pushed to four rounds of gruelling physical competition, the injuries sustained can be severe. Yet, the players play through it, because that's hockey.
The Lightning made public five significant injuries to their players, including stars in Brayden Point, Nikita Kucherov, and Anthony Cirelli. Point sustained a torn quad muscle in the first round, but continued to practice in hopes of returning for the finals. Cirelli suffered an AC joint sprain, on his collarbone, that will require surgery in the offseason. Nikita Kucherov tore his meniscus. In addition, McDonagh and Bellemare also sustained significant injuries, and more Lightning players likely did too.
When these injury lists come out, it's hard not to wonder how the team would've performed had some players been healthy. Especially in Brayden Point's case, who was just nearing a return based on his game-time decision status every game, and is such an impact player for the team. A healthy Kucherov perhaps could've scored a tying goal late in game 6. Anthony Cirelli, who struggled in these playoffs, was playing through significant pain in his collarbone, and maybe could've been the shutdown centre he's known to be had he been healthy.
That said, playoff hockey is a war of attrition. Every hit is an investment. Part of the competition is battling through the physical pain of injuries, just like the Avalanche did, and the best team won. Congratulations to the Avalanche, and hope the Lightning can physically recover after another long season of hockey.
The Lightning have revealed even more injuries this afternoon.
| POLL | ||
Will the Lightning be contenders next season? | ||
| No, their window is closed | 44 | 15.9 % |
| Yes they'll be in the Finals again | 100 | 36.2 % |
| They'll make the playoffs but lose early | 132 | 47.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
