No time table for Callahan's return, but Lightning's Cooper hopeful
TAMPA, Fla. -- The morning after Tampa Bay Lightning winger Ryan Callahan underwent an emergency appendectomy at Tampa General Hospital, coach Jon Cooper admitted the veteran is "extremely doubtful" for Game 6 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night. But he also left open the possibility that Callahan would recover quickly.
"We'll see what happens," Cooper said Tuesday morning at Amalie Arena. "I have not talked to him since he has been released.
"Is he extremely doubtful for today? Sure he is. But I've done a little researching now on the whole subject, and I've read that it could take a couple weeks, and I've read it has taken people a day to get back. So I'd say he falls somewhere within those boundaries. But knowing how tough Callahan is, I'd put him closer to the days than the weeks."
Word of Callahan's condition didn't reach Cooper until Monday evening, after Callahan felt discomfort earlier in the afternoon and was sent to the hospital. Callahan was absent during Tampa Bay's practice Monday morning in Brandon, Florida. But Cooper said that the player's no-show was unrelated to Callahan's eventual surgery.
"Today, he's feeling really good," Cooper said. "I know it's not something that's uncommon. ... We got to it before anything really bad (could occur). The word 'ruptured' could have happened. So who knows?"
Callahan, 30, has three assists in 12 games in these Stanley Cup Playoffs. But teammates said his leadership and postseason perspective -- this is his seventh playoff berth -- will be missed the most if he doesn't appear in Game 6.
"I know it's too bad we lost Cally," Tampa Bay winger Ondrej Palat said. "He's a leader. He's a veteran on the team. And it's too bad we're going to have to play without him."
"Obviously, it's tough for Cally," Tampa Bay center Steven Stamkos said. "But we've got some guys that are capable of stepping up in this situation. We've had lots of depth on the team all year."
To most who share a dressing room with him, Callahan's operation served as a surprise. Now the Lightning must regroup in the hours before their season's largest game.
"It's a big loss, for sure," Tampa Bay defenseman Jason Garrison said. "Obviously, everyone is pretty surprised by what happened. We've just got to make sure that the guys that are in the lineup come to play tonight no matter what.
"He has been a workhorse for us this playoffs. So his physicality and his leadership are going to be big things missed."
You can follow Andrew Astleford on Twitter @aastleford or email him at aastleford@gmail.com.
