Mikhail Sergachev returns from injury, Lightning win Game 4

Mikhail Sergachev‘s return sparked the host Tampa Bay Lightning, who averted elimination with a 6-3 victory over the Florida Panthers in Game 4 of their first-round sequence on Saturday.

One of the Lightning’s prime defenseman had been out since fracturing the tibia and fibula in his left leg on Feb. 7. Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper had predicted the Lightning would want to “go far” within the playoffs to see Sergachev gown for an additional sport. Sergachev surpassed all expectations by suiting up simply 80 days following that break to be a last-minute addition to the Lightning’s starters.

“I felt like a hockey player again. It was unbelievable,” Sergachev mentioned. “I found out yesterday the [doctors] cleared me, and it was Coach [Cooper’s] decision [if I played]. I stayed at the rink a little longer waiting for the coach to say yes or no. And he said yes. I got very excited.”

Sergachev had hoped he’d be capable of come again for Game 1 of the sequence however that did not pan out. Instead, he logged 17:03 in ice time and notched an help on Brandon Hagel‘s second-period objective in his Saturday debut. Sergachev admitted to being “a little bit tired” ultimately after so lengthy on the sidelines. But Sergachev’s smile by no means wavered.

Even although he is performed practically 500 NHL video games since being drafted by Montreal ninth general in 2016 and established himself as one of many league’s rising stars on protection, there have been nonetheless a couple of butterflies current earlier than Saturday’s sport.

“Honestly, I couldn’t really sleep last night; it felt like my first NHL game again,” Sergachev mentioned. “And then you go on the ice, and you get that [reception] from the fans in the warmup — it made me very emotional. I’m thankful to be here.”

The Lightning are grateful to be alive of their sequence, too. Tampa Bay — nonetheless trailing Florida 3-1 — narrowly averted being swept by its in-state rivals. The Lightning held a 3-0 lead after the primary interval however the Panthers roared again to chop the deficit to 4-3 after 40 minutes. However, Tampa Bay scored the sport’s closing two objectives to increase the sequence.

Tampa Bay lastly discovered its footing offensively. The Lightning exploded up entrance, led by two-goal performances from Steven Stamkos and Hagel and a three-point effort by Brayden Point. The Lightning energy play additionally had its greatest exhibiting of the postseason, going 2-for-5.

Stamkos credited Sergachev’s return for including emotional power to the group earlier than the puck dropped.

“I got chills myself, with the reception he got,” Stamkos mentioned. “The amount of work that goes into coming back from an injury like that, it’s impressive. The timeline is impressive, everything he’s done is extremely impressive. To go out there and jump into a series when we’re down and on the ropes, it was a huge boost for our team. I thought Sergy played outstanding tonight. Hopefully that continues because he’s a big part of our defense for sure.”

Sergachev in flip thanked Stamkos for offering much-needed inspiration from Stamkos’ restoration from a damaged leg in 2013.

“Our trainer was showing me videos of Stammer skating like four weeks after [that injury],” Sergachev mentioned. “That kind of pushed me and made me work because the first four weeks since the injury, it was tough mentally. But seeing those videos of him walking pretty much the next day and doing all that stuff kind of helped.”

It wasn’t simple for Sergachev to be again on the injured record. That February sport marked Sergachev’s first night time again from a earlier lower-body damage that held him out of 17 contests. Sergachev was admittedly devasted to see his complete season halted at simply 34 video games, with two objectives and 17 assists. And clearly he was missed, not solely by the Lightning gamers however the followers who welcomed him again warmly.

“Did you hear the introduction? The roar just kept going on,” Cooper mentioned. “All the guys on our bench got up. It was a stirring moment and I thought we carried that right into the first period.”

Cooper had no hesitation both inserting Sergachev instantly into an elimination sport. Regardless of Sergachev doubtlessly being rusty — or the excessive stakes at hand — Cooper knew his defenseman was a lock for the lineup.

“You can tell when a player is ready and when a player is not ready,” Cooper mentioned. (*4*)

Tampa Bay will proceed to consider as effectively that its playoff run will not finish in Monday’s Game 5 — particularly not with Sergachev now alongside for the journey.

“It was phenomenal,” defenseman Victor Hedman mentioned of getting Sergachev within the combine. “We’ve watched from close up how hard he’s worked to get to this day. Super impressed by the way he played. Big momentum boost for the guys. It’s huge.”