Lightning’s Lilleberg Suspended Two Games for Interference

The National Hockey League’s (NHL) Department of Safety announced Monday that Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg has been suspended two games for interference on Detroit Red Wings forward J.T. Compher.

The incident occurred at 11:17 of the second period. Lilleberg was assessed a minor penalty for interference.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Lilleberg will forfeit $9,062.50. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Lilleberg has appeared in 45 games this season with Tampa, in which he has recorded 11 assists with a team-leading 76 penalty minutes.

The Norwegian-born blue-liner made his NHL debut with the Lightning last season, totaling 37 games in which he recorded five points and 16 penalty minutes alongside a minus-15 rating. The 23-year-old was originally chosen by the former Arizona Coyotes in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL Draft.

In July, the Lightning signed Lilleberg to a two-year extension that will begin at the start of the 2025-26 campaign.

On the season, the Lightning sit 26-19-3 to hold down the first wildcard seed in the Eastern Conference with 55 points.

Meanwhile, Compher was listed as day-to-day by the Red Wings on Monday. Compher’s injury will keep him out of the lineup Monday when the Red Wings take on the Los Angeles Kings. On the season, Compher has made 48 appearances with Detroit in which he has registered six goals and 15 assists for 21 points with a plus-four rating.

Entering Monday’s contest against the Kings, the Red Wings are riding two-game win streak and sit 23-21-5 on the season, four points shy of the Tampa Bay Lightning for the second wildcard seed in the Eastern Conference.