The Tampa Bay Lightning announced that forward Tanner Jeannot would not play in Thursday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens and is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Jeannot, 26, did not return to the game in Wednesday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs after fighting Ryan Reaves in the third period. During their scrap, Reaves connected on a right that took Jeannot down to the ice.
Despite not returning to the game, head coach Jon Cooper told reporters in the post-game that Jeannot was “fine.”
Through 50 games this season, Jeannot has six goals and seven assists for 13 points and 71 penalty minutes. In four NHL seasons with the Lightning and Nashville Predators, Jeannot has 41 goals and 38 assists for 79 points in 222 career games.
Going into Thursday’s game, the Lightning are 42-26-7 with 91 points, fourth in the Atlantic Division and currently holding onto the No. 1 Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. With seven games to go, Tampa Bay is expected to make the playoffs, considering they have a nine-point lead on the Washington Capitals, the team holding the No. 2 Wild Card spot.
Now the only question for the Lightning is if they can pass the Maple Leafs in the Atlantic Division, who currently have 95 points. After Thursday’s game, Tampa Bay travels to Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins on Saturday afternoon, then they fly home for a two-game homestand against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators.
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