From Erik Erlendsson of The Tampa Tribune:
As of right now, signs are pointing toward Drouin NOT playing while Marchessault is expected to at least take warmups #tblightning
— Lightning Insider (@Erik_Erlendsson) May 12, 2015
This, of course, is related to Ryan Callahan’s emergency appendectomy that’s expected to keep the veteran winger out of the lineup tonight in Montreal.
While Lightning coach Jon Cooper wasn’t ruling anything out, including Callahan playing, it sounds like Jonathan Marchessault, an undrafted 24-year-old who’s played just two games for the Lightning, will get the call over Jonathan Drouin, the third overall pick in 2013 who appeared in 70 games for the Lightning this season, plus three more in the playoffs.
Drouin last played in Game 4, a 6-2 Tampa Bay defeat.
Marchessault had a team-high 67 points in 68 games for AHL Syracuse during the regular season. He had one goal and one assist and was named the game’s first star in his last NHL appearance, on Apr. 11 versus Boston.
Related: Cooper says Drouin will play at some point in second round