Point was dealing with a "significant tear" in his quad toward the end of the playoffs. He's expected to make a full recovery in a "few weeks," Joe Smith of The Athletic reports.
Point missed 14 of the Lightning's last 16 playoff games due to his quad injury, which likely at least partially contributed to Tampa Bay's inability to get past the Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Finals. Point, who racked up 28 goals and 58 points through 66 regular-season appearances before adding five points through nine playoff contests this season, should be fully recovered well ahead of training camp in September.
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Lightning's Brayden Point: Won't play Game 6
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Point (undisclosed) will remain sidelined for Sunday's Game 6 against Colorado, per Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic.
Point rejoined the Lightning for the first two games of the Stanley Cup Finals, logging an assist, but was kept out of the following three contests. The 26-year-old center has two goals and three assists in nine games this postseason.
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Lightning's Brayden Point: Not playing Friday
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Point (undisclosed) is not on the ice for warmups, indicating he won't play Friday's Game 5 versus the Avalanche, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.
Point will miss a third straight game with the injury, which may be an aggravation of his previous leg injury. The center's absence won't be made worse since Anthony Cirelli (arm) is on track to play in Friday's must-win contest.
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Lightning's Brayden Point: Game-time call
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Point (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision for Friday's Game 5 versus Colorado, Joe Smith of The Athletic reports.
Point was on the ice for an optional morning skate Friday, but his status for Game 5 will nonetheless boil down to a game-time decision. The 26-year-old forward has missed the last two games due to an undisclosed injury.
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Lightning's Brayden Point: Doubtful Wednesday
Rotowire
Point (undisclosed) is expected to remain sidelined for Wednesday's Game 4 clash with Colorado, Tracey Myers of NHL.com reports.
Point will miss his second straight game due to his lingering undisclosed injury and 12th overall game this postseason. In Point's absence, Corey Perry should maintain his place on the No. 1 power-play unit while Riley Nash will fill out the lineup. At this point, it's hard to imagine Point suiting up again this postseason given how many games he has missed, though he hasn't been officially ruled out.
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Lightning's Brayden Point: Out Monday
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Point (undisclosed) will not be available for Game 3 against the Avalanche on Monday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Point has one assist while averaging 17:19 of ice time in two games this series after missing the previous 10 contests. It's unclear if the 26-year-old is dealing with an aggravation of his leg injury or if he's out for a separate issue. Riley Nash is expected to suit up in his absence Monday.
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Lightning's Brayden Point: Labeled game-time call
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Point is considered a game-time decision ahead of Game 3 against the Avalanche on Monday with an undisclosed injury, Sportsnet's Chris Johnston reports.
While coach Jon Cooper didn't officially cite Point's previous leg injury as the reason for his potential absence, it's hard to imagine that's not the cause of the center's absence from the game-day skate. If Point does miss out, Riley Nash will likely step into the lineup in a bottom-six role while Corey Perry would move into Point's spot on the No. 1 power-play unit.
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Lightning's Brayden Point: Earns assist in return
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Point (leg) notched an assist in 17:59 of ice time in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Avalanche in Game 1.
Point returned to the lineup after missing 10 contests with the leg injury he sustained in Game 7 of the first round versus the Maple Leafs. He helped out on a Nick Paul tally in the first period. After the game, Greg Wyshynski of ESPN.com reports Point was not made available to the media as he received medical treatment, though at this stage, it's likely just injury management. He's earned five points and 21 shots on net in eight playoff outings, and pending any further injury issues, he should see a middle-six role with power-play time throughout the Stanley Cup Finals.
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Lightning's Brayden Point: Cleared to play in Game 1
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Point (leg) will be back in the lineup against Colorado for Game 1 on Wednesday, Samantha Pell of The Washington Post reports.
Point returns following a 10-game stint on the sidelines due to his leg problem. Prior to getting hurt, the 26-year-old center registered four points in seven games, including three with the man advantage. Based on practice lines, Point should be expected to fill a third-line role in Game 1 while also slotting into the No. 1 power-play unit.
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Lightning's Brayden Point: Takes line rushes
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Point (leg) was a full practice participant Monday, including taking line rushes with the third line, Joe Smith of The Athletic reports.
It's far from a guarantee that Point will be available for Game 1 versus the Avalanche on Wednesday, but it certainly appears as though the 26-year-old center is trending in the right direction. In the first round against Toronto, Point generated four points, including three with the man advantage.
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Lightning's Brayden Point: Should return during Stanley Cup
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Point (leg) is "extremely probable" to play during the Stanley Cup Final, Greg Wyshynski of ESPN.com reports.
Point has been out for the last two rounds after an injury he suffered in Game 7 of the first round. The 26-year-old center hasn't been declared good to go for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, but head coach Jon Cooper is optimistic he'll have Point back at some point as the Lightning look to complete their three-peat. He can be considered day-to-day at this stage in his recovery.
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Lightning's Brayden Point: Not in lineup for Game 6
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Point (leg) isn't on the ice for warmups, indicating he won't play in Saturday's Game 6 versus the Rangers.
Point has been inching closer to a return for much of the Eastern Conference Final, but he'll need at least a couple more days to be ready. With Point still out, Riley Nash should remain in the lineup for the Lightning. Point was reportedly a game-time decision Saturday, so he may be able to go in Game 7 on Tuesday if the Rangers win or in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final if the Lightning advance.
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Lightning's Brayden Point: Could play Saturday
Rotowire
Point (leg) is questionable for Game 6 against the Rangers, per Greg Wyshynski of ESPN.com.
Point hasn't played since suffering a leg injury in Round 1 against Toronto. Per coach Jon Cooper, the center will be a game-time decision if he's able to skate in warmups. The 26-year-old Point would be a major upgrade in Tampa's top six. He finished the regular season with 28 goals and 30 assists.
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Lightning's Brayden Point: Won't play Thursday
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Point (leg) will not be available against the Rangers for Game 5 on Thursday, Greg Wyshynski of ESPN.com reports.
Point will miss his ninth consecutive game due to his leg injury, dating back to May 14 versus the Maple Leafs. Without the 26-year-old Calgary native in the lineup, Brandon Hagel figures to continue filling a top-six role while Corey Perry should stay with the No. 1 power-play unit. Once cleared to play, Point should immediately offer top-half fantasy value given his ability to find the back of the net (28 regular-season goals).
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Lightning's Brayden Point: Hasn't been ruled out
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Although coach Jon Cooper would be surprised if Point (leg) played in Thursday's Game 5 versus the Rangers, the 26-year-old forward has yet to be officially ruled out, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.
Point's status for Thursday's contest may boil down to a game-time decision. If he's able to gut it out for Game 5, Point's ice time may be managed in his return to action.
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Lightning's Brayden Point: Ruled out Tuesday
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Point (leg) will remain sidelined for Tuesday's Game 4 matchup with the Rangers, Arthur Staple of The Athletic reports.
The fact that coach Jon Cooper has already ruled Point out for Tuesday's contest certainly doesn't bode well for the 26-year-old center returning in this series. Still, the Calgary native has been skating with the team as he tried to work his way back into the lineup. If Point is able to return in the playoffs, he should immediately reclaim a spot in the top-six as well as linking up with one of the power-play units.
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Lightning's Brayden Point: Remains out for Game 3
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Point (leg) will not play in Game 3 against the Rangers on Sunday, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.
Point hasn't played since injuring his right leg in Game 7 against Toronto in Round 1. He could still return for playoff action, but given that it's already Round 3, time could run out for the 26-year-old to return before next season. Look for another update prior to Game 4 on Tuesday.
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Lightning's Brayden Point: Return to playoffs possible
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Point (leg) may return to the playoffs, but Lightning coach Jon Cooper said he doesn't know when that might be, reports NHL.com.
"He's progressing. We've just got to see," said Cooper. Point, who has four points (two goals, two assists) in seven playoff games, was injured when his right leg twisted as he slid into the wall in Game 7 of Round One against Toronto. It's not known if Point's injury is related to the labrum tear that required surgery in the summer of 2019. There is no timeline for him to resume skating,, but the longer the Bolts go in the postseason, the better the chance Point has to return.
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Lightning's Brayden Point: Still unavailable Monday
Rotowire
Point (leg) remains on the shelf for Monday's Game 4 matchup with the Panthers, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.
Point has yet to get onto the ice during the Bolts' second-round series but that hasn't stopped the club from taking a 3-0 series lead with the chance to close things out Monday. If Point is able to return at some point during the postseason, he should be capable of offering top-half fantasy value once restored to his top-six role.
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Lightning's Brayden Point: Remains out Sunday
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Point (leg) will not play Game 3 on Sunday against visiting Florida, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.
The teams are in a somewhat unconventional back-to-back scenario with Game 4 happening Monday, which probably puts Point in doubt for that contest, too. There's been no return timeline provided for the 26-year-old, who suffered an injury against Toronto in Game 7 on May 14.
