Cooper to overlook 2 video games as Lightning coach after father’s dying

TAMPA — Jon Cooper won’t coach the Tampa Bay Lightning towards the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, truTV, TNT, SN, TVAS) as a result of dying of his father, Robert, earlier this week.

Lightning assistant Rob Zettler will function performing head coach throughout Cooper’s absence, which may also embrace their recreation on the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.

“Well, I think you know his dad passed away two nights ago or the other night,” Zettler mentioned after the morning skate on Wednesday. “I spoke to him at size final evening about a number of private stuff.

“Thoughts and prayers, as always, to ‘Coop’ and his family. That was the No. 1 thing — that he takes care of business back home. He left this morning to go back to Vancouver.”

Cooper, who coached Team Canada to the silver medal on the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, is anticipated to be again with Tampa Bay on Saturday when it hosts the Buffalo Sabres.

Tampa Bay may have ahead Brayden Point and defensemen Charle-Edouard D’Astous and Emil Lilleberg again within the lineup Wednesday. Point’s damage pressured him to overlook the Olympics with Canada. Lightning middle Anthony Cirelli (higher physique), who additionally could not play for Canada on the Olympics, may return Saturday. Forward Nick Paul (decrease physique) was positioned on injured reserve.

The Lightning (37-14-4) went 19-1-1 of their final 21 video games earlier than the Olympic break and are first within the Atlantic Division, six factors forward of the Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings.

“What I am really confident in is our guys,” Zettler mentioned. “They’ve been glorious in so some ways this 12 months, together with occasions like this the place Coop’s lacking or one thing occurs to one of many guys, and we have had guys step up all 12 months.

“Whether it’s injuries or personal reasons, people have missed games and they’ve really done an excellent job of responding. I expect nothing less and they expect nothing less of themselves.”

The NHL returns from the Olympic break Wednesday with eight video games. Team USA received the gold medal on Sunday by defeating Canada 2-1 in extra time.

“I was texting with [Cooper] on Monday when we were flying back [from Milan],” mentioned Lightning ahead Jake Guentzel, who performed for the U.S. “Obviously a extremely unhappy day for him and his household.

“It’s going to be different [without him on the bench], but we’ve just got to step up and try to get the win for him.”