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Latest On Brayden Point

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Injured Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point did take the ice today, doing some drills with assistant coach Jeff Halpern, and that may have looked to some like an indication that Point was close to returning from his injury. Unfortunately for Tampa, though, that does not appear to be the case. In a press availability before Game One versus the New York Rangers, Lightning coach Jon Cooper told the media (per Joe Smith of The Athletic) to “temper any expectations of [Point] coming back at all.”

That’s obviously a statement that has significant implications on the Lightning’s series with the Rangers, and a development that will make the team’s series all the more difficult. Point is one of the Lightning’s most important players and was brilliant in the team’s two straight Stanley Cup championship runs. While he had gotten off to a relatively slow start in these playoffs, not having Point is still a major loss for Tampa.

Point was injured in the Lightning’s Game Seven victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, and has not played since. That proved to be no issue for the Lightning in the second round, as they swept the President’s Trophy-winning Florida Panthers, but it could be more of a problem against the Rangers, who boast a superstar goalie in Igor Shesterkin.

The Lightning have looked unbeatable in the playoffs for over two seasons now, but based on Cooper’s comments, they may be without one of their best players for an extended period of time. It’s hard to bet against a team that has just won back-to-back championships, of course, but this absence may leave Tampa more vulnerable than they have been in years.

Point Skates After Practice

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  • There was an interesting sight today just after the Tampa Bay Lightning left the ice following morning skate, as reporters including Joe Smith of The Athletic spotted Brayden Point doing drills with assistant coach Jeff Halpern. There’s no updated timeline for Point’s return after he left game seven against the Maple Leafs in the first round. The 26-year-old center has led the Lightning in goals during each of the Stanley Cup runs and would be a huge boost if he can re-enter the lineup at some point.

Despite Missing Three Straight Practices, Hagel Should Play Wednesday

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  • Although he has missed three straight practices, Lightning winger Brandon Hagel is expected to play in Wednesday’s Conference Final opener, relays NHL.com’s Corey Long. The 23-year-old has been battling a foot injury since blocking a shot back in the second game of the series against Florida although he has been able to play through it so far.  Hagel has been relatively quiet in the playoffs so far with just a goal and three assists in 11 games but he had 25 tallies between Chicago and Tampa Bay this season so as long as he’s able to keep playing through the injury, he’s an offensive threat in their bottom six.

NHL Announces Conference Final Schedule Scenarios

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After one-half of the conference finalists have been set, the NHL has released the potential schedule matrix for the 2022 Eastern and Western Conference Finals.

No matter what, the Eastern Conference Final will start June 1, whether it be in Raleigh or Manhattan. The Tampa Bay Lightning will be the visitor after sweeping the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Florida Panthers in the Second Round. The Lightning actually finished with the same point total as the New York Rangers (110), but surrender the tiebreaker, so it’s impossible for them to start the series at home. They would also start on the road against the Metropolitan Division champion Carolina Hurricanes. The Eastern Conference Final will be televised on ESPN in the United States.

For the Western Conference, the schedule depends on the result of tonight’s Game 6 between the Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues. If Colorado is victorious tonight, the series will start on May 31st in Denver. If it goes to a Game 7, the Edmonton Oilers will travel to either Denver or St. Louis for Game 1 on June 2. In the United States, the Western Conference Final will be on TNT.

The last possible day for Conference Final action is June 15, with a potential Western Conference Final Game 7 between the Oilers and either the Avalanche or Blues.

Brandon Hagel Avoids Suspension, Earns Fine

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The Tampa Bay Lightning will still have Brandon Hagel in the lineup when they try to complete the sweep of the Florida Panthers this evening. The young forward avoided suspension and received a $3,750 fine from the Department of Player Safety for his hit on Eetu Luostarinen. The fine is the maximum allowable under the current CBA.

Hagel, 23, was originally given a major penalty for boarding but had it reduced to a two-minute minor after an official review. The incident occurred partway through the first period, as he delivered a cross-check to Luostarinen’s back a few feet from the boards, sending him headfirst into the corner. Luostarinen did end up returning later in the period and played nearly 14 minutes in the game.

One of the prized trade deadline acquisitions, Hagel has represented some secondary scoring and depth for the Lightning these playoffs, recording four points in ten games so far. While he is averaging just 13:25 of ice time, the young forward–who is signed at a very reasonable $1.5MM per season through 2023-24–has already shown signs of being able to play higher in the lineup next year when the team is forced to see other veteran names depart.

On this occasion, he may have taken his feisty play over the line but will escape without having to miss a game and pay nothing more than a nearly insignificant fine.

Tampa Bay Lightning Sign Jaydon Dureau

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As June approaches, several prospects that were drafted in 2018 or 2020 will be nearing a chance at unrestricted free agency. Not so for Jaydon Dureau, who signed his three-year entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning today.

Selected 147th overall in 2020, Dureau finished his junior career with the Portland Winterhawks a few days ago when they went down to the Seattle Thunderbirds in round two of the WHL playoffs. The 21-year-old forward had 66 points in 49 games for Portland this season, adding another six in nine postseason appearances.

Already with five AHL games under his belt over the last two years, Dureau will join the many other mid-round CHL players to enter the Tampa Bay development program and should be a full-time member of the Syracuse Crunch next season.

Brayden Point Won't Play Sunday

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  • Tampa Bay has ruled out Brayden Point for Sunday’s game against Florida, relays Joe Smith of The Athletic (Twitter link). The center has yet to play in the second round after suffering a lower-body injury in the final game of their series against Toronto.  Despite missing their top pivot, the Lightning find themselves in good shape with a 2-0 series lead heading into back-to-back games at home on Sunday and Monday.

East Notes: Point, Boyle, Goodrow

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It looks like the Battle of Florida will be missing one of its biggest stars, at least for Game 1. After falling awkwardly in their Game 7 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brayden Point is doubtful for Game 1 of their Second Round series against the Florida Panthers, according to head coach Jon Cooper. Cooper notes that Point’s availability remains day-to-day, however.

Point’s injury didn’t look good, to say the least. Toe-picking along the wall with not much time remaining in the first period, Point’s leg went into the boards and he immediately winced in pain, grabbing his right leg near his hip. Point attempted to return for a shift in the second period and did not return after, although he did stay on the bench. The Leafs did a decent job of limiting Point in that series, holding him to just four points in seven games (and a -6 rating), although he did score the overtime winner in Game 6 to tie the series. Nonetheless, he remains an extremely important piece for the Lightning if they hope to get past their Presidents’ Trophy-winning Floridian counterparts and keep the three-peat dream alive.

  • The Pittsburgh Penguins announced today that veteran forward Brian Boyle underwent successful knee surgery today with an expected recovery time of six weeks. Boyle was injured in the team’s Game 6 loss to the New York Rangers. The 37-year-old was a pleasant surprise this season for Pittsburgh, notching 21 points in 66 games and two assists in six playoff games. The cancer survivor signed a PTO with the Penguins during training camp after not playing professionally in 2020-21 and carved out a regular spot in the lineup. It remains to be seen whether Boyle will return to the NHL next season.
  • Rangers forward Barclay Goodrow won’t be available for Games 1 and 2 of their Second Round series against the Carolina Hurricanes, but he still has a chance to return from injury during the series according to head coach Gerard Gallant. Goodrow was injured in Game 1 against the Penguins and hasn’t played since. He remains week-to-week with an undisclosed injury.

Brayden Point Suffers Injury In Game Seven

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It appears as though the Tampa Bay Lightning will be without one of their core pieces for the rest of tonight after forward Brayden Point suffered an apparent leg injury late in the first period against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The injury came as Point and Toronto defenseman Mark Giordano traveled into the corner, Point trying to spin off of Giordano, but appearing to get his skate stuck, falling awkwardly onto the ice. Point would get up and go to the dressing room, putting no weight on his right leg. He would return at the start of the second period, taking a shift, appearing to be in a great deal of pain, returning to the bench and remaining there.

The loss of Point is massive for Tampa if he cannot return, being one of the team’s leaing point producers and one who contributes in all facets for the Lightning. Even more importantly, Point is known for his big playoff goals for Tampa, most recently the Game Six overtime winner against Toronto to force tonight’s Game Seven. Point’s playoff prowess is not an illusion either, as he has 367 points in 417 career regular season games, an impressive mark, but steps up to 77 points in 73 career playoffs games coming into tonight.

Looking ahead, losing Point could be a multi-factor issue for Tampa. For one, he would be expected to play a major part in Tampa’s ability to finish off Toronto tonight in Game Seven, and his absence could be a key factor if Tampa fails to do so. If Tampa does advance, then the question will shift to when, or if, Point can return going forward. Tampa will have a tough test on their hands if they advance, facing the 2022 President’s Trophy winning Florida Panthers in Round Two.

Alexei Melnichuk Signs In KHL

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After being traded earlier this season and finding himself in the ECHL, it seemed likely that Alexei Melnichuk’s time in North America was coming to an end. That was made official today, as HC Sochi in the KHL announced that the young goaltender has signed a contract with them that runs through April 30, 2024.

Melnichuk, 23, signed with the San Jose Sharks in 2020, just a few months after the COVID-19 shutdown, and looked like he could potentially provide some NHL value in the future. After all, he was coming off a very strong KHL debut, with a .930 save percentage in 16 appearances during the 2019-20 campaign. They did get three NHL appearances out of him, but they certainly weren’t of the valuable variety.

In his 131 minutes of action during the 2020-21 season, Melnichuk allowed 11 goals on 81 shots, good for an .864 save percentage and 5.05 goals-against average. Certainly not the debut he was hoping for, and when two stints in the minor leagues didn’t go much better, it was a trade this year that brought him to the Tampa Bay Lightning organization.

It’s in that trade that there is some intrigue. Because he is a restricted free agent at the end of this season, the Lightning will actually retain his exclusive NHL rights should they at least extend him a qualifying offer. That doesn’t mean much for now, with the contract already signed back home, but those rights will not have expired by the time this new KHL contract is over. At that point, when he is a 25-year-old with more professional experience under his belt, the Lightning would potentially have the chance to bring him back over, should the relationship still be intact.

Given the upside that he’s shown in 32 KHL appearances, that’s at least worth it for the Lightning, who only gave up minor league forward Antoine Morand–a non-tender candidate himself this offseason–in the deal.

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