There's a surprising omission from the Tampa Bay Lightning's lineup Tuesday for their meeting with the Nashville Predators. Potential Rookie of the Year candidate Mikhail Sergachev is a healthy scratch, the team announced.
The 19-year-old defenseman has 27 points in 47 games this season. Performance aside, Sergachev's absence is surprising given that All-Star D-man Victor Hedman remains out of the lineup with a lower-body injury.
During the Lightning's previous game Monday against the Blackhawks, Sergachev took a four-minute, double-minor penalty - two for high-sticking, two for unsportsmanlike conduct - so the missed game may be a way to help the youngster learn a lesson.
On top of that, his offensive production has slowed of late, collecting just four points in his last 15 games.