For people who say that stars have privileges in the NHL, the Lightning just proved the opposite.
Indeed, the club, which is far from assured of a place in the playoffs, will leave one of its best players aside for its match this evening against the Bruins, Brayden Point.
The striker missed a team meeting and will therefore watch the intra-division match from the stands.
Leaving such a player aside takes ballsbut it also means that you have good control over your team and whether your name is Brayden Point, Nikita Kucherov or Conor Geekie, you can’t have your way and arrive late for team meetings.
Point, who has 47 points in 37 games, is obviously one of the best players on the team. And clearly, he is accountable for his actions.
Without Point, Tampa Bay will face the Boston Bruins, who are only two points behind Jon Cooper’s squad. Even though both teams have a good chance of making the playoffs, it remains an important game.
The Lightning have four games in hand over the Bruins and if they were to win this duel, they would be four points behind Boston, with as many games in hand. At mid-season, that’s a pretty big hill to overcome.
To return to the subject of the article, imagine for a second if Nick Suzuki was left out due to a missed meeting… That would have caused a lot of discussion.
The Canadian, who is in Utah this evening, is only three points behind Boston and five from the Lightning.
In burst
– The Greensboro Gargoyles: Spittin’ Chiclets ECHL team.
– In Montreal with Ivan Demidov?
– Oh yes?
– Ah good.
– It’s good.
