Jan 3, 2014; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning center Valtteri Filppula (51) skates with the puck against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Tampa Bay Lightning won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

I think it is safe to say that this game is not going according to plan for the Tampa Bay Lightning. First, less than two minutes into the game, goaltender Ben Bishop is forced to leave the game with an Upper Body Injury. Now, it is Lightning center Valtteri Filppula that is forced to leave the game with a Lower Body Injury.

Down two goals, the Bolts took the ice in the second period looking to get this game back under control. Trying to make a play, Valtteri Filppula was in the offensive zone attempting to chase down the puck when he is hit by Senators defenseman Eric Gryba.

Filppula was able to get off the ice without any assistance, but the look on his face was pretty obvious. He goes back out on the ice for another shift, but it didn’t last very long at all. Filppula would come off the ice and shake his head at the Lightning’s Head Athletic Trainer Tom Mulligan. From there, it was down the tunnel to the Lightning locker room.

Now, the Bolts are down a goaltender and a center.

Valtteri Filppula has skated in 53 games this season with the Lightning. In that time he has scored 19 goals and 21 assists for a total of 40 points to go with his plus-5 rating. This puts him in second place on the team in regards to points, topped only by the captain, Martin St. Louis.

Filppula is supposed to compete for Team Finland in the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia; however, if this injury proves to be something long term, that may be in jeopardy.

We will keep you up to date on the situation with both Ben Bishop and Valtteri Filppula as more information is made available.

As always, we here at Bolts By the Bay wish Valtteri Filppula a speedy recovery, and hope to see him back on the ice soon.

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