Jan Rutta News
Rutta was a game-time decision for Friday due to an undisclosed injury but it looks like he will dress without any issues. The 32-year-old has three goals, four assists, 51 SOG, 22 PIMs and a +4 plus/minus through 40 games so far this season.
Rutta has been sidelined by a lower-body injury since March 30th but is set to play Friday vs. the Stars. Rutta, who has eight assists and a plus-13 rating in 33 games this season, will skate on the third pairing with Mikhail Sergachev in his return to the lineup.
Rutta played in the Lightning's second round-robin game but that was it. When head coach Jon Copper met with the media on Monday, he said that everything was "status quo," which suggests that Rutta is still unfit to play. Look for Zach Bogosian to remain in Rutta's spot.
Rutta has already missed the last nine games and will likely miss at least seven more. The Lightning went out and added Zach Bogosian on Sunday, so he'll fill in for Rutta moving forward.
Rutta suffered a lower-body injury in the Lightning's win over the Golden Knights on Tuesday and he is expected to miss a couple of weeks. With Rutta out, Mikhail Sergachev moved to the top-pair in Wednesday's practice and Brayden Coburn looks like he'll be back in the lineup on Thursday.
Rutta is dealing with a lower-body injury and is officially listed as day-to-day. With Rutta sidelined, Brayden Coburn will draw back into the lineup.
Rutta split his campaign between the Blackhawks and Lightning and spent half the year in the AHL. Rutta had four goals and eight assists (12 points) in 26 AHL games and eight points (2G / 6A) in 37 NHL games. With the Lightning’s blueline banged up at the end of the season, Rutta appeared in all four playoff games, where he had two helpers. He will likely serve as a sixth/seventh defenseman with Tampa Bay next year.