The Tampa Bay Lightning will be without the services of veteran defenseman Ryan McDonagh for the remainder of their home contest against the Florida Panthers.
The team announced during the second period that McDonagh had sustained a lower-body injury.
McDonagh did not come out of the locker room for the second period of Saturday’s in-state showdown for first place in the Central Division between the Bolts and Panthers. He took nine shifts and skated 6:38 total in the first period, blocking a shot and was on the ice for Tampa Bay’s tying goal when Yanni Gourde netted a rebound past Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
McDonagh paces the Lightning for blocked shots (64) and average shorthanded time on ice (3:13). He ranks second on the Bolts for average time on ice (22:29).
McDonagh has played all 31 games this season, notching two goals and six assists. He ranks fourth among Lightning defensemen for scoring.