With the Winter Olympics fast approaching, Team Canada will be in wait-and-see mode on the injury status of one of its players.
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Anthony Cirelli was injured in Tuesday’s 4-1 win over the San Jose Sharks.
Cirelli only took one shift at the beginning of the third period before not playing for the remainder of the game.
“I don’t know. I don’t want to say anything,” Lightning head coach Jon Cooper told reporters when asked about Cirelli’s status after the game. “He’s a tough kid, so I’m hoping he’ll be OK … We’ll see tomorrow.”
Cirelli appeared to suffer the injury from some friendly fire from Lightning teammate Brandon Hagel midway through the second period.
Hagel, who was also named to Canada’s Olympic team, ripped a shot from the slot that hit Cirelli in front of the net.
Cirelli went to one knee in some discomfort, but stayed in the game until the start of the third.
The 28-year-old forward has 13 goals and 17 assists in 44 games for the Lightning this season.
Cirelli, from Etobicoke, Ont., was also a member of Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off. He did not record a point in four games.
