Ondrej Palat News

Palat was forced to leave Thursday's game vs. the Coyotes after being on the receiving end of a knee from Taylor Hall. Palat did not return to the game and is questionable to play in their back-to-back over the weekend.

Palat has been out since October 26th but will draw back into the lineup vs. the Sabres. Palat is expected to be back on the fourth line and on the second power-play unit in his return. He has five assists in nine games this season.

Palat was on the ice for the Lightning’s morning skate, but will miss his 14th consecutive game. Palat is nearing a return, so monitor his status heading into Friday’s game vs. the Blackhawks.

The Lightning announced on Wednesday that Palat is not progressing like they hoped and announced this morning that he will be shutdown for four weeks. With Palat out, J.T. Miller is expected to remain in the Lightning’s top-6 through November and into December.

Lightning’s head coach said that Palat is not “progressing the way wen liked so we shut him down here for a little bit.” Palat was originally expected to be back before Victor Hedman, but it sounds like the opposite will end up coming true.

Palat has missed the last three games and will miss at least the next two. Palat did not travel for the Lightning’s back-to-back which starts in Montreal on Saturday and finishes in Ottawa on Sunday.

Palat will not play Tuesday vs. the Devils or Thursday vs. the Predators, but could be back Saturday in Montreal. With Palat out, the Lightning shuffled their lines at Monday’s practice, reuniting J.T. Miller-Steven Stamkos-Nikita Kucherov.

Palat, who has been out since January 20th, skated on the second line and second power-play unit at the Lightning’s morning skate and will play tonight vs. the Maple Leafs. Palat is a huge addition to the Lightning lineup as he picked up eight goals and 22 assists (30 points) in 46 games before getting injured.

Palat will miss at least three games with an undisclosed injury and may not be ready to return after the All-Star break. The Lightning don’t have a timetable for Palat’s return but don’t expect another update until early next week.

Palat missed the last two games with a lower-body injury, but he is expected to play tonight in Minnesota. Palat will skate on a line with Vladislav Namestnikov and Nikita Kucherov and comes into play with 25 points (10G / 15A) in 47 games this season.