Tampa Bay Lightning Activate Brayden Point From Injury Reserve After 11-Game Absence

Brayden Point returns to the Tampa Bay Lightning lineup tonight after missing 11 games with a lower-body injury. The alternate captain last played on January 12 against the Philadelphia Flyers before a knee injury forced him to the sidelines.The Lightning activated Point from long-term injured reserve, along with defenseman Emil Martinsen Lilleberg. Point suffered the injury while scoring a power-play goal at 4:29 of the second period in a 5-1 victory over the Flyers.

Injury forced Brayden Point to miss the Olympics despite getting called up

The injury forced Point to withdraw from Team Canada's roster for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Carolina forward Seth Jarvis replaced Point after the Lightning center was unable to recover in time for the tournament.Point was one of six players originally announced to Canada's Olympic roster last summer. Tampa Bay general manager Julien BriseBois called the decision devastating, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun. But his subsequent injury made it impossible for him to be a part of Team Canada.Defenseman Cam York fell on Point's right leg during the play, forcing the 29-year-old center to leave the ice with help. "Incredible selflessness on his part," BriseBois said.

"They could have pushed to play at less than 100 percent but showed character of the highest order in giving up their spot."Canada lost 2-1 in overtime to Team USA in the gold medal game on February 21. Point skated during optional practices leading up to the Olympics but was not healthy enough to compete. In a corresponding move, Tampa Bay placed forward Nick Paul on injured reserve. Point recorded 30 points in 37 games before the injury, including 11 goals and 19 assists.

The two-time Stanley Cup champion was playing his best hockey of the season prior to getting hurt, producing eight goals and 19 points over a 15-game stretch.The Calgary native has averaged 18:02 of ice time this season for Tampa Bay. He led the NHL playoffs in goals during both 2020 and 2021 with 14 tallies each year, helping the Lightning capture consecutive championships.Tampa Bay went 6-1-1 in the games immediately following Point's injury in late January.

The Lightning enter tonight's matchup against Toronto with a 37-14-4 record and 78 points, holding first place in the Atlantic Division.The Maple Leafs sit seventh in the division with a 27-21-9 record and 63 points. Toronto trails Tampa Bay by 15 points in the standings heading into tonight's contest at Amalie Arena.Lightning captain Victor Hedman also returns tonight after sustaining a lower-body injury during Olympic warmups for Team Sweden. The 35-year-old defenseman has appeared in only 21 games this season after missing nearly two months following elbow surgery.