Brayden Point Injury Update
Brayden Point is dealing with an undisclosed injury that forced him out of Saturday's game against the Washington Capitals, and he's sitting out Monday's matchup with the Philadelphia Flyers, too. It's the kind of vague update that leaves Lightning fans pacing the living room, nothing broken, they say, but "questionable" for Wednesday's tilt against Calgary doesn't exactly scream quick turnaround. Diandra Loux (@Diandra_loux) shared on X that Erik Cernak and Brayden Point are both out tonight for #GoBolts. Cernak is week-to-week with a different injury and will miss significant time, while Point is "dicey" for Wednesday with no definitive update.
Happened late in the second period up in D.C., where he just skated off down the tunnel without much fanfare, no dramatic collision or anything that screams highlight-reel agony. Benjamin Pierce (@BenjaminJReport) shared on X that TBLightning coach Jon Cooper confirmed Erik Cernak is "for sure" week-to-week, and Brayden Point won't play tonight, with his status "dicey" for Wednesday.
Coach Jon Cooper's keeping it close to the vest, no specifics dropped in the pre-game scrum, but you can bet the training room's buzzing with scans and rehab drills right now. Reminds you of that time a couple seasons back when Point tweaked something in the playoffs, missed a shift, came back firing on all cylinders as nothing happened. Fingers crossed it's more of that than a nagging drag through December.
Tampa's already thin up front with Nikita Kucherov nursing his own day-to-day (though he's suiting up tonight, thank goodness), and Victor Hedman's been sidelined on IR since early November with that lower-body whack. Point's not just a center who wins faces; he's the engine that hums the whole second line, dishing those slick no-look passes that turn breakaways into goals.
Without him, the power play, already sputtering at 18.5% this year, feels even more exposed, and guys like Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli are picking up extra ice time, logging shifts that leave them gassed by the third. It's frustrating, sure, watching a contender like the Bolts grind through this early-season injury bug, but there's a silver lining in how it spotlights the depth.
Remember last spring when the taxi squad stepped up during the Cup run? Same vibe, young bucks like Conor Geekie getting reps, turning "what if" into "watch this." Stats-wise, Point was humming along in those first 21 games: three goals, eight assists for 11 points, with 44 shots on net and a shooting percentage hovering around 6.8% not his vintage sniper clip, but the playmaking was there, buried in the top-six mix. Quick snapshot of where he left off:
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Goals: 3 (solid setup man, but those wristers were due to the heat up)
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Assists: 8 (the real magic—half from power plays that needed his vision)
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Points per game: 0.52 (down a tick from last year's tear, but context is king with the team's rocky start)
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Time on ice: Averaging 18:42, chasing pucks like it's overtime every night.
Disclaimer:
This injury update is for informational purposes only and is based on recent reports and official team statements available as of November 2025. Actual player status and return timelines may change. This content does not constitute medical advice or official confirmation from the Tampa Bay Lightning or the NHL
