When Nikita Kucherov lost and edge and went down into the boards in Thursday’s game there was obvious discomfort. When he didn’t return for the second and third periods in Tampa’s loss to the Canadiens it was even more worrisome. He didn’t appear to be wearing any braces after the game and on Friday the team announced he was day-to-day with an upper body injury.
Kucherov came onto the ice near the end of Saturday’s morning skate in New Jersey wearing a red no-contact jersey. Despite that the winger was able to shoot and stickhandle in a workout with Ryan Callahan without showing and ill effects. Kucherov won’t return to the line up for tonight’s game against the Devils but an exact date for his return is unknown even for head coach Jon Cooper.
“Could is the word. Can he? I’m not so sure,” coach Jon Cooper told the Tampa Bay Times. “But I know he’s feeling much better today… It’s not a good situation, but let’s just hope it’s only a couple games or maybe one game.”
An exact return date has yet to be announced for Ryan Callahan as well. The winger has spent the last several months recovering from hip surgery in June. Originally expected to be ready in mid-November, Callahan was cleared for contact on October 14th. He’s been practicing with the team and says he feels back to normal. Jon Cooper said it would be ideal if Callahan made his return to Madison Square Garden on Sunday but that’s not a certainty.
The Lightning will have some tough choices to make when Callahan is healthy. Brayden Point has been filling in handily in his absence and has definitely proven he belongs on the parent club. The organization’s depth can be a blessing and a curse in this regard.
(Feature Photo/Christine Gunn)
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