WINNIPEG—Anton Stralman is back in the lineup for the Lightning in time for Sunday's game against Winnipeg. The Lightning defenseman missed 17 games with an undisclosed lower-body injury.

Once he pulled himself away from the TV showing the soccer game between Liverpool and Manchester United, Stralman was all smiles about getting back in the lineup.

Erik Cernak, who was recalled to play in Stralman's place, will be scratched on Sunday, but coach Jon Cooper said he'll be back in the lineup on this road trip.

"Strals has been a big part of our team for a while," Cooper said. "When a guy misses two or three games, that's tough, but when you miss a month and a half, 17 games, that's tough and it could wear on your team. The group back there, they've been finding a way. But we're a better team with Stralman in the lineup and we're excited to have him back."

The team and its doctors had a hard time initially diagnosing Stralman's injury. He skated on and off a month ago, when he was first hurt as they tried to figure it out. Eventually, Stralman flew to St. Louis to see a specialist and come up with a plan.

He's been skating for a couple of weeks now, so he feels ready, it's just a matter of getting the timing back – as it always is when a player returns from injury.

The Matchup: The Lightning are the top team in the league taking on No.3 in Winnipeg on Sunday (seven points behind).

Patrik Laine is second in the league in goals, only recently passed by Alex Ovechkin (who went on a tear with back-to-back hat tricks). Brayden Point is sixth on that list.

The Jets have the top power play in the league, scoring on 30.2 percent of their chances (the Lightning are third at 29.3).

In short, there's a lot going on at the top of the league between these teams.

"I'd like to roll in and say this is game 34 out of 32, but no," said Cooper. "Guys are well aware. I think sometimes we underestimate how much the guys really pay attention in this league. They know what's across the hall, as Winnipeg probably knows. We only see each other twice a year, but in my time, I've been in the league, every time we play Winnipeg, something fun goes down. It's a really entertaining game, there's leads blown, its physical, its two teams that want to win and have aspirations of late runs in June. I think that's what makes it fun."