"Series Against Panthers Sees Lightning's Oliver Bjorkstrand Sidelined by Injury"

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Oliver Bjorkstrand will be absent from the team's first-round series against the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference, as announced by head coach Jon Cooper on Saturday.

Bjorkstrand is currently week-to-week with a lower-body injury that he sustained during Tampa Bay's 4-3 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings on April 11.

The 30-year-old Bjorkstrand has tallied nine points (five goals, four assists) in 18 games with the Lightning since being acquired from the Seattle Kraken before the NHL trade deadline. He recorded 37 points (16 goals, 21 assists) in 61 games with the Kraken during the 2024-25 season.

Originally drafted in the third round by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2013 NHL Draft, Bjorkstrand has accumulated 384 points (172 goals, 212 assists) in 624 career games with the Blue Jackets, Kraken, and Lightning.