The Tampa Bay Lightning will be without forward Ryan Callahan for their pivotal game 6 against the Montreal Canadiens, and maybe longer. Callahan was rushed to hospital on Monday, and had to undergo an emergency appendectomy. He did not practice Monday, was admitted to Tampa General Hospital that night and was diagnosed with acute appendicitis.
“I found out when it happened [Monday], a little after dinner I think,” Tampa coach John Cooper said Tuesday. “He had discomfort. We had to check him in and just like that we had to get him under the knife. He’s good; we got to it before anything really bad could have happened.”
“Is he extremely doubtful for tonight? Sure he is,” Cooper said. “But I’ve done a little researching now on the whole subject and I’ve read it’s taken people weeks and I’ve read it’s taken people a day to get back. I would say he falls somewhere in those parameters. And knowing how tough Callahan is, I’ll put him closer to the days than the weeks.”
The Lightning are expected to add Forward Jonathan Marchessault to the lineup to replace Callahan. He had been practicing with the team since the elmination of their AHL affiliate the Syracuse Crunch last week. Marchessault played two NHL games this season, scoring his first NHL goal.
“If I get a chance to get in I want to show what I can do,” Marchessault said. “I think the last game of the season I had a good game here. So hopefully I can go on the same pattern and just be intense and be ready to play a playoff game here.”
Callahan has no goals and three assists in 12 playoff games for the Lightning so far. He has been playing on a line with Steven Stamkos and Alex Killorn.
“You can’t plug Ryan Callahan’s hole,” Cooper said. “He’s a guy that, the hole he leaves … he’s a leader on our team. He’s extremely important. He plays with passion, grit. He plays with all those things that help you win. But he plays with such character and grace. You win with guys like Ryan Callahan. That’s why he’s another one that’s played so many playoff games in his career because you win with guys like that. We saw that the day he came here in the trade last year, and he’s done nothing but elevate the play of our team. Pull the stats on our record when Ryan Callahan scores a goal; It’s pretty good. So if he’s not able to go tonight naturally it’s a blow to our team. But one guy doesn’t make a team. I don’t think you can say that about any team in this league. That’s where you need your depth and you need guys to step up. Ryan Callahan plays 15 to 20 minutes a night, somebody’s going to have to take those minutes and run with them.”
