Lightning place Brayden Point on injured reserve

The Tampa Bay Lightning have placed center Brayden Point on injured reserve, throwing doubt into his potential participation with Team Canada at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics, set to open in 21 days. 

The 29-year-old suffered the injury in the Lightning’s Monday game against the Philadelphia Flyers, leaving the game in the second period after scoring off a rebound in front of the Flyers’ net to make the game 3-0. The Lightning went on to win the game 5-1. 

In that moment, however, Point’s right leg tangled with the Flyers’ Cam York, before Point grabbed his knee in noticeable pain and left the game soon after, with help making his way off the ice. 

“I think we all saw [the injury], so let’s see,” Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said after the win. 

Point did not play in Tampa Bay’s Tuesday 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, before being placed on injured reserve on Friday. This season, he has 11 goals and 30 points in 36 games and was previously named one of the first six players to Team Canada’s 2026 Olympic roster, before Hockey Canada unveiled the entire team earlier on New Years Eve. 

A native of Calgary, Alta., his absence is a significant blow to the Lightning and the Canadian team, both coached by Jon Cooper. However, several alternates have been lined up by the Canadian Olympic Committee, if Point or others are unable to compete at the tournament.

The Lightning currently sit first in the Atlantic Division, as they prepare to take on the St. Louis Blues on Friday night in the fourth game of a current five-game road trip. They return home on Jan. 20 to face the San Jose Sharks and will have eight games between that point and the Olympic break, with Point hoping to make his way back into the lineup.