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Tampa Bay Lightning forward Anthony Cirelli suffered an undisclosed injury during Wednesday's game against the New York Rangers and did not return for the third period, per Chris Krenn. Cirelli's status for the upcoming game against the New York Islanders at 7:30 PM ET is uncertain.
Cirelli recorded one assist in just over 10 minutes of ice time before leaving the game. This season, he has been an important player for the Lightning, accumulating 28 points in 55 games while playing in a middle-six role.
If Cirelli is unable to play on Thursday, it is expected that Mikey Eyssimont will take his spot in the lineup. Eyssimont has appeared in five games for the Lightning this season, registering one assist.
Cirelli's absence would certainly be felt by the Lightning, who are in a tight race for playoff positioning in the competitive Eastern Conference. Tampa Bay currently sits in third place in the Atlantic Division.
Anthony Cirelli has been an important contributor to the Lightning's success in recent seasons, particularly during their run to the Stanley Cup championship in 2020. The 25-year-old has established himself as a reliable two-way forward, capable of contributing offensively while also playing a strong defensive game.
A look at Anthony Cirelli's NHL career
Anthony Cirelli, a young and talented center, has been an integral part of the Tampa Bay Lightning's success in recent years. His contributions both offensively and defensively have made him a valuable player for the team.
Anthony Cirelli was selected by the Lightning in the third round (No. 72) of the 2015 NHL Draft, following an impressive season with Oshawa of the Ontario Hockey League, where he had 36 points (13 goals, 23 assists).
After signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Lightning in May 2016, Cirelli made his NHL debut in March 2018 against the Dallas Stars.
Cirelli's big break came in the 2018-19 season, where he became the team's third-line center, and helped the Lightning tie the NHL single-season record with 62 victories.
In the 2019-20 season, Cirelli continued to impress, scoring 16 goals and finishing with NHL career highs in points (44) and plus-minus rating (plus-28). His contributions in the playoffs were even more critical, scoring the game-winning goal in double overtime against the New York Islanders in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final, sending the Lightning to the Stanley Cup Final.
He also contributed three assists in six games against the Dallas Stars in the Cup Final to help Tampa Bay win its first championship since 2004.
