Lightning forward Brayden Point 'makes progress,' may return during Rangers series

It was confirmed on Monday that Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brayden Point would remain out of the lineup for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final against the New York Rangers held in Tampa Bay on Tuesday evening due to the unspecified lower-body injury he first suffered in Game 7 of the Lightning's first-round series victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on May 14.

It sounds as if Point won't be available for Thursday's Game 5 at Madison Square Garden, but head coach Jon Cooper suggested the 26-year-old could take the ice during the series if the Lightning, which are trailing 2-1 heading into Tuesday night, aren't eliminated ahead of the weekend. 

"He makes progress every day and I think when you start getting closer, maybe the anticipation gets to be a little bit more," Cooper explained during Tuesday's optional morning skate, according to Tom Gulitti of the official NHL website. "So hopefully there's no more setbacks and we can see him at some point. But it's definitely not tonight."

Point tallied two goals and two assists against Toronto before his setback. As noted by ESPN stats, he finished the regular season second on the Lightning with 28 goals, and he also tallied 30 assists across 66 contests. 

"If it goes seven (games), then optimism stays up," Cooper added about Point. "If it is a five-game series, it's a little dicier. So it's just time. It's just going to take time."