Lightning’s Mikhail Sergachev leaves game vs. Blues with lower-body injury, did not return

During Tuesday’s game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the St. Louis Blues, Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev suffered a lower-body injury and did not return.

The injury occurred midway through the first period when Sergachev blocked a Colton Parayko slap shot, hitting him in the ankle and sending him to the ice. Sergachev stayed on the ice but struggled to move as the Blues controlled the puck in the Lightning zone, eventually hobbling to the bench as Tampa Bay regained possession.

Through 33 games this season, Sergachev has two goals and 17 assists for 19 points. Drafted ninth overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Sergachev is in his eighth NHL season with 48 goals and 209 assists for 257 points through 474 games, scoring a career-high 10 goals and 54 assists for 64 points in 2022-23.

The native of Nizhnekamsk, Russia won two Stanley Cup championships with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021.

The Lightning would end up winning the game 6-1, with Nikita Kucherov scoring his 21st and 22nd goals of the season, solidifying his spot as the NHL points leader with 54 through 32 games.

Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 29 of 30 shots.

Steven Stamkos had three assists to move past Theo Fleury for 67th place on the all-time career points list with 1,090.

Blues’ goalie Jordan Binnington was pulled in the second period after allowing five goals on 23 shots. During the two team’s last meeting, Binnington recorded a shutout in a 5-0 win for St. Louis.

The Lightning’s next game is Thursday night against the Vegas Golden Knights. Meanwhile, the Blues play again on Thursday against the Florida Panthers.