Anthony Cirelli (Image Credits: Imagn)

What Happened To Anthony Cirelli? Latest Update On Tampa Bay’s Forward

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Swati Bhatia | Last updated Feb 2, 2026 1:08 AM ET

The Tampa Bay Lightning pulled off one of the wildest wins of the season on Sunday night, storming back from a 5-1 deficit to defeat the Boston Bruins 6-5 in a shootout to secure the 2026 Stadium Series.

But while the win was memorable, the night was not without concern for Tampa Bay. Midway through the game, the Lightning were dealt an injury scare as center Anthony Cirelli suffered an undisclosed injury and did not return for the third period.

Cirelli’s night took a turn late in the first period. With under two minutes remaining in the opening frame, Bruins forward Mark Kastelic delivered a hard hit that caught Cirelli. The Lightning forward immediately appeared shaken and was slow to get up before heading to the bench.

Injury Update: Anthony Cirelli has sustained an injury and will not return to tonight’s game. #StadiumSeries
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) February 2, 2026

The injury came at a bad time for the Atlantic Division leaders. The Lightning are already without Brayden Point. Any extended absence for Cirelli would stretch Tampa Bay’s depth even further as the Eastern Conference playoff race tightens.

Anthony Cirelli’s Injury Spoils Lightning’s Historic Stadium Series Win

Anthony Cirelli (Image Credits: Imagn)

Cirelli played just 6:25 minutes and recorded two shots on goal before exiting. Head coach Jon Cooper addressed Cirelli’s status after the game, suggesting the injury may be more than minor.

“It was kind of a stinger,” Cooper said. “Cirelli’s a tough kid. For him not to come back, clearly there’s something wrong with him. So hopefully he’ll be OK. There’s some big games coming up ahead for him.”

For now, Cirelli’s status remains uncertain, with more clarity expected once he undergoes further evaluation.

The potential loss of Cirelli would be a major concern for Tampa Bay and Team Canada. The 28-year-old has quietly put together a strong campaign this season. In 48 games, he has posted 15 goals and 20 assists and is +29.

His strong performances earned him a spot on Team Canada for the upcoming Winter Olympics, with Canada set to open its tournament on February 12 against Czechia. With the national team already sweating over Brad Marchand’s availability, losing Cirelli would be a big blow.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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