Injuries to Scott Sabourin (undisclosed) and Brandon Hagel (undisclosed) will allow Michael Chaffee and Oliver Bjorkstrand to re-enter Tampa Bay's lineup. The 30-year-old Bjorkstrand has 29 points (11G / 18A) in 72 games this season, but has just one point (1G / 0A) and a -8 plus/minus in his last 14 games.
With Nikita Kucherov (illness) hopeful to return to Tampa Bay's lineup on Tuesday, Bjorkstrand will be the odd man out of the lineup as a healthy scratch. The 30-year-old Bjorkstrand has 29 points (11G / 18A) in 72 games this season, but has just one point (1G / 0A) and a -8 plus/minus in his last 14 games.
Bjorkstrand will draw right back into the lineup after sitting out Tuesday's game against the Wild. Scott Sabourin will sit in his place.
Bjorkstrand was a surprise scratch on Tuesday, with his absence not being reported prior to warmups. Scott Sabourin will draw into the lineup in his place.
After being acquired in a trade on Wednesday, Oliver Bjorstrand is expected to make his Lightning' debut on Thursday vs. Buffalo. When the 29-year-old takes the ice on Thursday, he will wear his third different NHL jersey in his 10th NHL season. He had 16 goals, 37 points and 124 SOG in 61 games with Seattle before being moved to Tampa Bay.
Bjorkstrand brings significant offensive depth to a Tampa Bay Lightning team in the running for first place in the Atlantic Division. The 29-year-old Bjorkstrand tallied 37 points (16G / 21A) and 124 shots while averaging 15:28 time-on-ice through 61 games with Seattle this season.
Bjorkstrand was a healthy scratch in the Seattle's previous game, replaced by John Hayden, but will re-enter the lineup on Friday night against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 29-year-old Bjorkstrand was a Western Conference All-Star last season, scoring 59 points (20G / 39A) in 82 games. This season, Bjorkstrand has only five points (3G / 2A) in 13 games and has been held off the scoresheet in seven of the last eight.
John Hayden will draw into Seattle's lineup on Tuesday, replacing Bjorkstrand, who will be a healthy scratch for the first time this season. Bjorkstrand was a Western Conference All-Star last season, scoring 59 points (20G / 39A) in 82 games. This season, Bjorkstrand has only five points (3G / 2A) in 13 games and has been held off the scoresheet in seven of the last eight.
Bjorkstrand missed the Kraken's previous game due to personal reasons but will draw back into the lineup Thursday vs. Arizona. The 27-year-old has 19 goals, 23 assists, 187 SOG, 14 PIMs and a +2 plus/minus through 76 games played this season.
Bjorkstrand was activated from COVID-19 protocol on Monday and will play Tuesday vs. the Lightning. Bjorkstrand has scored just three goals and one assist (four points) in his last nine games.
Bjorkstrand joins Boone Jenner, Eric Robinson and Joonas Korpisalo, who remain in protocol and will likely be sidelined until at least the middle of next week.
Bjorkstrand finally saw his long-awaited bump in ice time in 2020 and he turned out a career-year, which was unfortunately hampered by injuries. Overall, he scored 21 goals with 15 assists (36 points) in 49 games, a 35-goal and 60-point per 82-game pace. Bjorkstrand is expected to continue to see huge minutes in 2021 as a fixture on the Blue Jackets' top line with Pierre-Luc Dubois.
