After a strong 2024-25 regular-season, the Tampa Bay Lightning are ready for the playoffs. The Lightning will play Game 1 of the first round against the Florida Panthers on April 22, and it should be a great series.
While speaking to reporters, including team reporter Gabby Shirley, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper provided an update on forward Oliver Bjorkstrand, and it was an unfortunate one. The Lightning bench boss confirmed that Bjorkstrand will be out for the entirety of the team's series against the Panthers.
Earlier this month, Cooper shared with reporters that Bjorkstrand would be out week-to-week due to a lower-body injury. Now, with this latest update from Cooper, we know that the Bolts will be without the skilled forward against the Cats.
This is rough news, as Bjorkstrand is an important part of the Lightning's forward group. He provides solid secondary offensive production when playing at his best, so the Lightning will certainly miss him when they go up against a deep team like the Panthers.
The Lightning acquired Bjorkstrand and Yanni Gourde from the Seattle Kraken at the 2025 NHL trade deadline. Since joining the Bolts, Bjorkstrand has recorded five goals, four assists, nine points, and a plus-3 rating in 18 games. This was after he had 16 goals and 37 points in 61 contests for the Seattle Kraken before the trade.
The Lightning will need to adjust without Bjorkstrand in the lineup from here. Replacing the seven-time 20-goal scorer's production in their middle six will be a tough task for the Lightning, but we will need to wait and see how the team plays against Florida with him sidelined from here.
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