Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev returns from broken leg in Game 4 vs. Panthers

In a surprise development, Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev made his return from a broken tibia and fibula in his left leg for Saturday’s playoff game against the Florida Panthers.

Sergachev, 25, had to be stretchered off the ice during Tampa’s game against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on February 7 after falling awkwardly into the boards as a result of a collision with Rangers forward Alexis Lafrenière.

After missing the rest of the 2023–24 regular season, Sergachev made an unexpected return in warm-ups prior to Game 4 between the Panthers and Lightning at Amalie Arena in Tampa on Saturday afternoon.

Shortly thereafter, the Lightning made it official: Sergachev is back. Bolts head coach Jon Cooper paired Sergachev with Erik Cernak as the Lightning looked to stave off elimination against their state rivals.

Sergachev endured through a disastrous 2023–24 season that saw him miss a majority of his team’s games while recovering from various injuries. The February game in which he broke his leg was actually Sergachev’s first game back after missing the previous 17 with a different lower-body injury.

In just 34 games played with the Lightning during the regular season, Sergachev racked up two goals and 19 points while averaging 22:33 of ice time per night. The 6’3″ left-handed defender is under contract through the end of the 2030–31 season at an $8.5 million cap hit.

The Montreal Canadiens originally selected Sergachev in the first round (No. 9 overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft. The Nizhnekamsk, Russia product appeared in four games with the Canadiens in his first post-draft season before being flipped to the Lightning in exchange for forward Jonathan Drouin.

Through 475 career games over parts of eight NHL seasons with the Canadiens and Lightning, Sergachev has collected 48 goals and 257 points. He’s added nine goals and 33 points in 98 career playoff contests, winning the Stanley Cup twice along the way.

The Lightning entered Saturday’s contest looking to avoid being swept in a playoff series for the first time since 2019, when they were unceremoniously dispatched by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round.