TAMPA, Fla. _ It has been almost three weeks since Dan Girardi has been in the Lightning's lineup. And that fact is not expected to change any time soon.
Following Monday's morning skate prior to the Boston contest, coach Jon Cooper said the veteran defenseman is not expected to return before the Lightning's playoff run begins.
"It's doubtful for him to play here in the rest of the regular season but we hope to see him in the playoffs," Cooper said.
Girardi will miss his eighth game Monday night as the Lightning take on the Boston Bruins. Girardi has been out with a lower-body injury since March 9 when Tampa Bay took on Detroit.
On Wednesday, Girardi's status was downgraded from day-to-day to out indefinitely.
Girardi isn't the only defenseman that has been out of the Lightning lineup as of late. Anton Stralman has also been out of the lineup with a lower-body injury. He missed his first game on March 7 when the Lightning took on Minnesota.
The defenseman has only practiced once since his injury was announced. He fully participated in a practice the day before his team took on Detroit on March 13.
Stralman returned to his second practice on Monday's morning skate ahead of the Lightning-Bruins matchup. He participated in all of the drills and seemed to move around the ice without a hitch.
