Mikhail Sergachev's return sparked the host Tampa Bay Lightning to avoid postseason elimination with a 6-3 victory over the Florida Panthers in Game 4 of their first-round series on Saturday.
One of the Lightning's top defenseman had been out since fracturing the tibia and fibula in his left leg on Feb. 7. Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper had predicted the Lightning would need to «go far» in the playoffs to see Sergachev dress for another game. Sergachev surpassed all expectations by suiting up just 80 days following that break to be a last-minute addition to the Lightning's starters.
«I felt like a hockey player again. It was unbelievable,» Sergachev said. I found out yesterday the [doctors] cleared me, and it was Coach [Cooper's] decision [if I played]. I stayed at the rink a little longer waiting for the coach to say yes or no. And he said yes. I got very excited."
Sergachev had hoped he'd be able to come by for Game 1 of the series but that didn't pan out. Instead, he logged 17:03 in ice time and notched an assist on Brandon Hagel's second-period goal through his Saturday debut. Sergachev admitted to being «a little bit tired» in the end after so long on the sidelines. But Sergachev's smile never wavered.
Even though he's played nearly 500 NHL games since being drafted by Tampa ninth overall in 2016 and established himself as one of the league's rising stars on defense, there were still a few butterflies present before Saturday's game.
«Honestly, I couldn't really sleep last night; it felt like my first NHL game again,» Sergachev said. «And then you go on the ice, and you get that [reception] from the fans in the warmup — it made me very emotional. I'm thankful to be here.»
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