Lightning center Brayden Point out four to six weeks with upper-body injury

The Tampa Bay Lightning have issued an update on Brayden Point, announcing that the center will be out four to six weeks with an upper-body injury.

It’s not the best news for the Lightning, but it certainly isn’t as bad as it could have been either. Point was originally ruled out indefinitely after being tripped on a breakaway and slamming into the end boards. While he was able to finish that game, Point was obviously hurt and now will miss at least a month.

That means he should be back in time for the Olympics, should Team Canada take him to Beijing, and will return around the same time the Lightning are currently expecting Nikita Kucherov back from his own injury. In the meantime, others will have to step up and carry the load for the Lightning and keep them in an Atlantic Division playoff position.

Point, 25, has averaged 20 minutes a night through the first 16 games of the season, scoring seven goals and 13 points in that time. After leading the entire league in goals during each of the last two postseasons, there are few players more impactful to the lineup. His presence is felt all over the ice, and between him and Anthony Cirelli, the Lightning have two of the most well-rounded two-way centers in the league.

Cirelli too has been asked to play a ton already this season, including more than 24 minutes with Point out of the lineup on Sunday. That heavy load will continue now for the next while, but others will be asked to do more as well.