Mikhail Sergachev Makes Shocking Return To Lightning Lineup Just 80 Days After Brutal Leg Injury

The Tampa Bay Lightning fans got a major surprise with news that defenseman Mikhail Sergachev would be in the lineup for the team's do-or-die Game 4 at home against the Florida Panthers.

The Lightning needed some kind of boost after dropping three straight to the Cats, and Sergachev being back in the lineup is just the ticket.

To the surprise of just about everyone, Sergachev was in the lineup for the first time in 80 days since he broke his left tibia and fibula in a brutal incident that saw him get stretchered off the ice at Madison Square Garden on February 7 (in what was his first game back after missing 17 games with another injury).

Unbelievable, especially given the severity of his injury. Hockey guys are just built differently, aren't they?

This was especially unfortunate because, at the time, he had just returned to the lineup after missing 17 games with another injury sustained in December.

According to Sportsnet, Sergachev was back on the ice in practice last week, but head coach Jon Cooper didn't expect him to be ready to go in time for the Panthers series.

Well, apparently he had other ideas.

Sergachev was not only in the lineup but started the game, and you'd better believe he got a huge ovation from the Amalie Arena crowd. 

The early returns were good. Tampa played arguably its best period of the entire series in the first on Saturday evening, and Sergachev even got in on the fun.

He registered an assist on the team's fourth goal and — forward Brandon Hagel's second — with a nice, crisp pass on an odd-man rush that he helped generate down in the defensive zone. 

I have to bring it up again: the guy you just saw hoof it 200 feet up the ice broke his tibia and Fibula 80 days ago.

EIGHTY!

It never ceases to amaze me what guys will do come playoff time in the National Hockey League.

Definitely not something you'd see in the NBA, that's for sure…