Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brayden Point sustained a "significant tear" to his quad and will recover in a few weeks, according to general manager Julien BriseBois.
Lightning staff and players spoke with the media Tuesday, two days after losing 2-1 to the Avalanche in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final with Colorado capturing the title.
BriseBois revealed several players were playing through pain including Point, who sustained the injury during Game 7 of the first round against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Point returned for the first couple of games of the Stanley Cup Final before leaving the lineup again.
Meanwhile, forward Pierre-Edouard Bellemare entered the playoffs already banged up with an MCL injury.
Two players were hurt when they were hit by the puck as forward Brandon Hagel fractured his foot during the second round against the Florida Panthers and defenceman Ryan McDonagh mangled a finger in the Eastern Conference Final against the New York Rangers.
Forwards Anthony Cirelli, Nick Paul and Corey Perry all sustained shoulder/AC joint sprains against the Rangers. Cirelli also dislocated his other shoulder while Paul suffered an MCL sprain in the Stanley Cup Final.
Star forward Nikita Kucherov sustained an MCL sprain as well against the Avalanche.
BriseBois said all players are expected to make full recoveries.
“What they put themselves through. It’s mind boggling," head coach Jon Cooper said after the Game 6 loss. "We would have had half our minor-league team playing if it was the regular season.”
