The Tampa Bay Lightning, via coach Jon Cooper, announced that defenceman Ryan McDonagh would not suit up for Game 2 against the Boston Bruins. The Lightning find themselves down 1-0 in this Eastern Conference Second round series.
Per Coop, Ryan McDonagh will not play tonight in Game 2. #TBLvsBOS
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) August 25, 2020
Ryan McDonagh Out for Tampa Bay Lightning
The reason why McDonagh won’t be going tonight is unclear, but regardless, the Lightning are losing an important force on their back end. Despite experiencing a down season, McDonagh has played huge minutes for the team during their current playoff run. The defender has averaged 26:07 of ice time a night through nine games while also tallying three assists.
The Lightning also miss out on a wealth of playoff experience. McDonagh is now making his tenth playoff appearance, and his third with the Lightning. Across 126 playoff games between the Lightning and New York Rangers, McDonagh has 10 goals and 39 assists for 49 points.
Over ten NHL season, McDonagh has played in 662 NHL regular-season games. He’s garnered 63 goals and 236 assists for 299 career points while averaging 23:07 per night throughout his career.
What This Means for the Future
McDonagh being out will require the Lightning’s depth to step up as they try to tie the series and ultimately win the seven-game bout. It’s a big opportunity for youngsters like Mikhail Sergachev, who will be primarily responsible for filling McDonagh’s absence. Sergachev hasn’t broken through offensively in these playoffs just yet, but is averaging almost 24 minutes a night. He’s proven he can handle the big minutes and should be a reliable fall-back option for Tampa.
Other veterans like Braydon Coburn will also get a chance to draw back into the lineup, replacing some of that playoff experience that the Lightning lose with the absence of McDonagh.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
