Anthony Cirelli and Brayden Point won’t play another game before the Olympic break.
Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper told reporters on Tuesday that both forwards will not return for the next two games due to injuries.
Cooper, who is also the head coach of Team Canada at the upcoming Winter Olympics, said there is still time to determine whether each player can compete for him in the tournament.
With Canada’s first game not until Feb. 12, Cooper added that the team will use the break to evaluate both players before making any final decisions.
Point hasn’t played since Jan. 12 when he was injured against the Philadelphia Flyers.
The 29-year-old has had a solid year for the Bolts, tallying 11 goals and 19 assists in 36 games.
Meanwhile, Cirelli was injured in Sunday’s Stadium Series game against the Boston Bruins after he was the recipient of a Mark Kastelic open-ice hit at centre ice with under two minutes left in the opening frame.
Cooper didn’t provide an update after the game, but called the injury “kind of a stinger.”
“Cirelli’s a tough kid. For him not to come back, clearly there’s something wrong with him,” Cooper said on Sunday. “So hopefully he’ll be OK. There’s some big games coming up ahead for him.”
The 28-year-old Cirelli has enjoyed a solid season with Tampa, posting 15 goals, 20 assists and is plus-29 in 48 games.
Both Cirelli and Point were also part of the Canadian roster that won gold at the 4 Nations Face-Off last February.
Hockey News