HIGHLIGHTS
- Brayden Point left game against Philadelphia with apparent knee injury
- Lightning forward scored power play goal before getting hurt on the play
- Watch video of Point’s injury below, plus the latest on his status
Brayden Point won’t return to Monday’s game against Philadelphia after suffering an apparent knee injury.
The Tampa Bay Lightning forward scored a power play goal five minutes into the second period, but immediately grabbed at his right knee after getting tangled with Flyers defenseman Cam York.
Point threw off his gloves, stayed down on the ice, and was helped off by head athletic trainer Tom Mulligan and teammate Nikita Kucherov.
Check out the concerning injury:
Video
The Lightning announced Point would not return, but hasn’t provided any additional details on the injury.
Point returned from a different injury in December and was finally playing like himself again. He put up 18 points in his last 14 games before Monday night, before scoring a beauty on the power play and going down with the injury.
The Lightning genuinely appear to be cursed when it comes to the Olympics. Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis have both missed important international tournaments due to injury. Now, Point might be next in line.
This would be a massive blow to the Lightning. Tampa Bay is battling Detroit and Montreal for the Atlantic Division title and needs everyone healthy down the stretch. They entered Monday riding an impressive 9-game winning streak.
Point was named to Canada’s Olympic team earlier this year as one of the initial six players selected. He featured on Canada’s first line during the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game in February. The men’s tournament begins Feb. 11.
If Point can’t go, Hockey Canada will likely turn to Connor Bedard, Mark Scheifele or Wyatt Johnston as a replacement. Sam Bennett is also on the replacement list, but the team said they’d match the skillset of whichever player goes down.
The play itself was a freak accident. York’s feet got tangled with Point’s, then Vladar tried a poke check that took out York’s other foot. The momentum carried right through Point’s knee. That’s brutal luck rather than a dirty play.
Point is one of the most underrated elite players in the league. The Alberta native has 10 goals and 29 points in 36 games this season after a slower start, and he was finally heating up before this. Point has eclipsed 40 goals and 80 points in each of the past three seasons, including a career-high 51 goals and 95 points in 2022-23.
Wishing all the best to Point, who deserves nothing more than to lace them up for his country on the big stage.
