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Tampa Bay Lightning F Valtteri Filppula Injured in the Second Period, Leaves Game

By Tasha St. Pierre

Jan 3, 2014; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning center Valtteri Filppula (51) skates with the puck against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Tampa Bay Lightning won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2014; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning center Valtteri Filppula (51) skates with the puck against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Tampa Bay Lightning won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 3, 2014; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning center Valtteri Filppula (51) skates with the puck against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Tampa Bay Lightning won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2014; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning center Valtteri Filppula (51) skates with the puck against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Tampa Bay Lightning won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /

Last night was just not a good night for the Tampa Bay Lightning. In the opening minutes of the game, they lost goaltender Ben Bishop after he inadvertently took a knee and a skate to the head while attempting to make a play outside of the net. After it was announced that Bishop would not be returning to the game, Lightning fans asked themselves how this could possibly get any worse. Then…they got their answer.

At the start of the second period, the Bolts were already down by two goals. They came out on the ice with a new energy looking to get back on top in the second frame. However, bad luck would strike them once again when Valtteri Filppula was injured trying to make a play.

It all went down like this. Filppula was in the offensive zone attempting to chase down the puck. With no puck in his possession, he is hit by Ottawa Senators defenseman Eric Gryba. When he hits the ground, it is pretty obvious that he is feeling something, and it is not good. He skates off the ice to the Lightning bench.

He was able to return to the ice a little over 6 minutes later, but it wasn’t long at all before he skated right back off the ice, shaking his head at the Lightning’s Head Athletic Trainer Tom Mulligan. Filppula would head down the tunnel to the Lightning locker room not to be seen for the remainder of the game.

It was announced later that Filppula would not be returning, as he had sustained a Lower Body Injury, although they would not reveal the specifics.

According to Lightning Beat Reporter Missy Zielinski, Filppula was not on the ice this morning when the team practiced.

This is not only a big blow for the Lightning organization, but could also prove detrimental for Team Finland. Valtteri Filppula was one of the forwards selected to represent his country in the 2014 Winter Olympics Games in Sochi. If this is something long term, Filppula may not be able to make the trip.

So far this season, Filppula has suited up for all 54 games the Lightning have played. In that time, he has scored 19 goals and 21 assists for a total of 40 points. This puts him in second place on the team in terms of points.

While things are not looking up at the moment, we here at FanSided wish Valtteri Filppula a speedy recovery.

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