{"id":445254,"date":"2026-02-04T14:58:23","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T14:58:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/445254\/"},"modified":"2026-02-04T14:58:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T14:58:23","slug":"tampa-bay-lightning-managing-health-as-olympic-break-approaches-the-hockey-writers-tampa-bay-lightning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/445254\/","title":{"rendered":"Tampa Bay Lightning Managing Health as Olympic Break Approaches – The Hockey Writers – Tampa Bay Lightning"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a> made the most of their historic outdoor game at Raymond James Stadium and now turn the page to the remainder of the season. The approaching Olympic Games remain at the forefront of everyone\u2019s minds as well.<\/p>\n

With a handful of games before nearly a three-week pause in the schedule, the team looks to evaluate its health. Some have already been made as they prepare for their next home game against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Olympic Status Take Hit for One Bolt, Another Up in the Air <\/p>\n

According to head coach Jon Cooper, via Tampa Bay Times reporter Eduardo Encina, multiple key players sustained injuries during the Stadium Series game. Both Nick Paul and Anthony Cirelli<\/a> will sit out the remaining couple of games before the break. Additionally, Brayden Point<\/a> won\u2019t be back before the break either. <\/p>\n

Jon Cooper said that both Cirelli and Paul will miss the last two #GoBolts<\/a> games before the break. Also, he said Brayden Point wont return before the break. #TBLightning<\/a>\u2019s centerman depth will be tested. Guentzel could shift over to center.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Eduardo A. Encina (@EddieInTheYard) February 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Cirelli\u2019s injury in the first period of the game cost him a trip to Milan. While Cooper said that there was still time to evaluate, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that Cirelli will be replaced by Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett on Team Canada. Hockey Canada later made the move official<\/a>. <\/p>\n

He suffered an injury after seeing just over six minutes of ice time in the first period. He didn\u2019t return to play. Before his injury, he was on pace for another strong season offensively. In 49 games, he put up 15 goals and 20 assists for 35 points. That puts him on pace for 25 goals and 59 points, which is about where he was at the end of last season.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, it\u2019s still unknown, as of Tuesday afternoon, if Point will be in the Olympics. Players depart for Milan on Friday, so we\u2019ll know soon enough. For what it\u2019s worth, while Cirelli wasn\u2019t present on the ice on Tuesday, Point reportedly was. He\u2019s out there, so he\u2019s still fighting for his chance. <\/p>\n

\"BraydenTampa Bay Lightning star Brayden Point has a chance to be back for the Olympics (Amy Irvin<\/a> \/ The Hockey Writers)<\/p>\n

Point last saw action on Jan. 12 in the 5-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. There were times this season when he was producing well below what was expected of him, but he had looked more like himself in the month before his injury. In his last 15 games, he tallied eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points. <\/p>\n

If he\u2019s healthy and able to play, Canada is going to let him keep his spot. Cooper, who also happens to be Canada\u2019s head coach, already has to go without Cirelli. He\u2019s going to get Point there if he can. <\/p>\n

Hedman\u2019s Return to Action Likely Greenlights Olympics<\/p>\n

Victor Hedman<\/a> made it back, as hoped, for action in the Stadium Series<\/a>. His elbow had healed up enough to see action for the Lightning in a regular-season game. Barring a decision of better safe than sorry, which sounds highly likely, he should be bound for the Olympics. <\/p>\n

Related: Lightning Week Ahead: Schedule & Storylines \u2013 Top of the East, Olympic Break and More<\/a><\/p>\n

He\u2019s one of the top players on Team Sweden, and being without him would put them behind the eight ball to start the competition. Having him see action in the regular season helps, too. Hedman himself acknowledged that Sweden has to be ready out of the gate. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo we\u2019ve just got to make sure that we come together quick,\u201d he said in an Olympic interview<\/a>. \u201cI mean, it\u2019s going to be a short turnaround going from the [NHL] regular season over to the Olympics. So yeah \u2014 we\u2019ve got to hit the ground running against Italy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Quick Olympic Break-Adjacent Thoughts<\/p>\n

As we all know, Russia is out of the Olympics due to its ongoing war with Ukraine. The Lightning have key players who will be having an actual break during this time, including Andrei Vasilevskiy and Nikita Kucherov. <\/p>\n

If you\u2019re the Lightning, you probably don\u2019t mind that your star goalie is going to get some time to rest. Don\u2019t get me wrong, Vasilevskiy certainly would want to play in the Olympics, and the Lightning would support him going. That can be true, and they can also think that it\u2019s good that the star goalie with an injury history gets the time off. <\/p>\n

For all intents and purposes, he missed training camp and the preseason. They had a scare in the regular season. If he isn\u2019t ready to go come playoff time, the team is in trouble. That Vezina Trophy case of his<\/a> could also easily go out the window if his health becomes an issue. <\/p>\n

The Lightning are one of the most represented NHL teams<\/a> at the Olympics. This is without two of their biggest stars staying home. They would love to have a bigger number of players there, but perhaps it\u2019s a blessing in disguise for later on. Olympic men\u2019s hockey is set to get underway on Feb. 11. It will be the first time since 2014 that NHL players get to participate. <\/p>\n

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