Coach Cooper provides an update on Alex Killorn for Game 3

In or out?

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HockeyFeed
Published 2 years ago
Coach Cooper provides an update on Alex Killorn for Game 3
Zuma Press

In case you missed it last night, the Tampa Bay Lightning managed a 3-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final despite the absence of forward Alex Killorn in the lineup. Officially Killorn is listed as day to day with a lower body injury. Forward Mathieu Joseph slotted into the lineup in place of Killorn.

Today Lightning head coach John Cooper provided somewhat of an update on Killorn's health saying that he'll travel with the team to Montreal for Game 3, but he won't yet confirm whether or not Killorn will play.

Check it out courtesy of Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman:


TB coach Jon Cooper says Alex Killorn will travel to Montreal, but won’t go any farther about the possibility the forward plays in Game 3

The 31 year old Killorn is second on the Lightning in goals scored this post-season with eight and has 17 points in 19 post-season games. Frankly, that's a bit of a surprise to me considering this is a team that boasts offensive talents like Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point and Steven Stamkos. But the fact of the matter is that Killorn is a valuable contributor on this team and his absence from the lineup is a big blow to the Lightning. It's believed that Killorn injured his foot by blocking a shot from Habs defenceman Jeff Petry midway through the 2nd period of Game 1. 

Teammate Ondrej Palat commented on Killorn's injury and called him, "a huge part of our team." "Everybody will have to step up and fill his role," Palat said. For what it's worth the 24 year old Joseph looked solid in Game 2 despite going pointless. He has suited up for three post-season games after putting up a respectable 12 goals and 19 points in all 56 regular season games for the Lightning during the regular season. If nothing else Joseph is a good guy to insert into the lineup because he's been a solid contributor all season long. This isn't just some guy who plays a game here and there, he's an everyday NHLer who has simply been forced to the press box with Nikita Kucherov's return to the lineup this post-season.