The Tampa Bay Lightning confirmed via social media that defenseman Ryan McDonagh exited Saturday’s matchup against the Washington Capitals with an undisclosed injury and would not be returning to the game. During his time on the ice, McDonagh recorded one blocked shot and logged 6:19 in ice time.
As of Saturday night, the 36-year-old McDonagh has registered three goals and three assists for a total of six points across 14 regular-season games, averaging over 21 minutes of ice time per game. Since his re-acquisition from the Nashville Predators in May 2024, he has tallied seven goals and 30 assists for 37 points throughout 96 regular-season games.
Now in the 16th season of his NHL career, McDonagh has impressive stats, with 83 goals and 343 assists for a cumulative 426 points in 1,024 regular-season contests, which have included stints with the Lightning, Predators, and New York Rangers. Notably, he has participated in 196 playoff games, contributing 12 goals and 56 assists for 68 points, and is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, having won titles with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021. He also holds the honor of appearing in two additional Stanley Cup Finals: in 2014 with the Rangers and again in 2022 with the Lightning.
Drafted 12th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, McDonagh’s journey included playing 38 AHL games with the Connecticut Whale, where he amassed one goal and seven assists. His collegiate experience with the University of Wisconsin also proved fruitful, accumulating 14 goals and 32 assists across 119 games.
Heading into the game against the Capitals, the Lightning stood with a record of 7-5-2, accumulating 16 points in their first 14 games of the season. Leading the charge for Tampa Bay was forward Nikita Kucherov, who has scored 14 points via seven goals and seven assists. Jake Guentzel contributed with a team-high eight assists, while Anthony Cirelli matched Kucherov’s goal count with seven.
McDonagh’s injury marks a challenging moment for the Lightning, but the team remains in a promising position early in the season, displaying strong contributions across their lineup. Fans are hopeful for a speedy recovery for McDonagh, highlighting his crucial role in the team’s defense and overall success.