Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper thinks star centre Brayden Point will return at some point in the Stanley Cup Final against the Colorado Avalanche.
"I don't know about probability of Game 1, but it is extremely probable he will play in the series," Cooper said after his team captured the Eastern Conference title for the third year in a row with a win over the New York Rangers on Saturday.
There were hopes Point could return for Game 6 against the Rangers when Cooper said the forward might take warm-ups after being a full participant in an optional skate earlier Saturday.
Point, who has missed 10 games in a row, was injured during Game 7 of the Lightning's first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs when he took an awkward fall into the boards. Point couldn't put any weight on his right leg after that and hasn't appeared in a game since. He made his first return to the ice on June 1 and has been slowly building himself back up during practices ever since.
Point had two goals and two assists during the series against Toronto.
For his career, Point has averaged more than a point a game in the playoffs (38 goals, 39 assists, 77 points, 74 games).
