BREAKING: Lightning Lose Franchise Player Minutes Before Tonight's Game

The team made the announcement just a few minutes before puck drop was scheduled to take place in Tampa Bay.

The team had to shake up their lines to accommodate the injury. Tampa's top line of Kucherov-Point-Hagel has been one of the best in the league this year but without Kucherov, the team will take a more balanced approach with their lines.

Both the Hurricanes and Lightning have been off to relatively quiet starts by both team's standards this year. Tonight's game thus brings a little added importance. especially with Kucherov out of the lineup for Tampa.