Filppula benched for violation of team rule

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
December 28, 2016

TAMPA, Fla. – Lightning head coach Jon Cooper wrestled with a difficult decision heading in to one of the most important games of the season for Tampa Bay.

One of the team’s veteran leaders violated a team rule ahead of the morning skate prior to facing the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday.{mprestriction ids=”1,2″} As a result, Cooper had to stick to the rule and suspend Valtteri Filppula for one game.

Considering Tampa Bay had just 12 healthy forwards before the game, Cooper said it was one of the more difficult things he’s had to impose.

“He missed a meeting this morning,” Cooper said. “In the end, Val is an unreal pro and I admire everything he does. He made a mistake, that’s it.”

Filppula will be back in the lineup when Tampa Bay hosts Toronto on Thursday.

“It was an extremely hard decision,” Cooper said. “But we are all in this together and he knows that. So it will be nice to pencil him back in.”{/mprestriction}