Injured Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Anton Stralman is with his teammates in Detroit and took part in an off-ice workout Sunday - but don't get too excited.
The defender, out with a fractured leg, won't play in the first-round series against the Red Wings, head coach Jon Cooper confirmed, according to ESPN's Craig Custance.
Up 2-0 in the series, Cooper said "there's a chance" Stralman returns should the Lightning move on, reports the Tampa Bay Times' Joe Smith.
Stralman was working out with what might have been a brace on his leg, but it was not a cast, Custance added. What we know is the defender is making progress, but there remains no definitive timeline for his return.
Here's what ice time on the blue line looks for Tampa Bay through two playoff games:
| Defenseman | Average Ice Time |
|---|---|
| Victor Hedman | 26:46 |
| Jason Garrison | 22:08 |
| Braydon Coburn | 19:15 |
| Matt Carle | 17:55 |
| Andrej Sustr | 17:52 |
| Nikita Nesterov | 12:35 |
Matt Carle was a healthy scratch numerous times throughout the season, but he's been asked to step up in Stralman's absence, and has done so admirably.
