Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Ryan McDonagh is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury. The veteran left Sunday night’s game against the Florida Panthers in the first period and did not return. Head coach Jon Cooper provided an update on his injury status during Tuesday’s team press conference.
#TBLightning coach Jon Cooper said Ryan McDonagh will not play tonight. Said if he plays on the three-game roadtrip "it would be a plus for us."#GoBolts
— Eduardo A. Encina (@EddieInTheYard) March 23, 2021
Ryan McDonagh Injury Considered Day-to-Day
McDonagh managed only 6:38 of ice time in the last game. However, his absence on the bench to start the second period came as a surprise. There was no stand-out play during the first that suggested he was struggling on the ice. His last shift came in the final minute of the opening period.
Lightning head coach Jon Cooper confirmed that McDonagh will miss Tuesday’s game against the Dallas Stars but did not rule out a return during the team’s road trip this week.
Up to this point, McDonagh has played in all 31 games for the Lightning this season. He has two goals and eight points during that span. Although, where the 31-year old provides the most value, aside from leadership, is in blocking shots; he leads the Lightning roster by a considerable margin with 64 blocks. Victor Hedman is second on the team with 47 blocked shots.
[pickup_prop id=”4435″]
What This Means Going Forward
As a result of the Ryan McDonagh injury, Jon Cooper will have to properly juggle the pairings of his defensive corp for the first time this season. Tuesday’s game against the Dallas Stars will be Tampa’s first time in 2020-21 without Victor Hedman, Ryan McDonagh and Mikhail Sergachev all playing on the left side.
Among Cooper’s options are right-shot Luke Schenn and left-shot Andreas Borgman. Schenn has played 17 games for the Lightning this year, registering one assist and 14 penalty minutes. Meanwhile, Borgman has suited up only once in his first year in Florida. Tampa signed the undrafted defenceman in 2020 as a depth piece.
Borgman previously played in 48 NHL games for the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2017-18 season. Since then, he has spent most of his time in the American Hockey League. In 123 AHL games, Borgman has 10 goals, 42 points and 108 penalty minutes.
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
