"I'm not sure he's going to play tonight, but I expect him to play," coach Gerard Gallant had said after the morning skate Tuesday. "I haven't heard nothing that's saying he's not playing."
Strome participated in the optional skate.
"He skated I guess," Gallant said. "It was an optional skate, he went out there, but I haven't heard nothing from the trainers yet. I think he's ready to go tonight, but the trainers will tell me after they get off the ice and assess them."
Forward Kevin Rooney replaced Strome in the lineup.
RELATED: [Complete Rangers vs. Lightning series coverage]
Strome was injured after getting shoved from behind by Lightning forward Ondrej Palat early in the second period of Game 3. Strome turned and immediately winced in pain, went to the bench, hobbled through the bench door and went straight to the dressing room.
He returned for one shift later in the period but left before intermission and did not return for the third.
The Lightning won 3-2 in Game 3. The Rangers lead the best-of-7 series 2-1.
Strome is the Rangers' second-line center, playing between Artemi Panarin and Andrew Copp. He also is a regular on their first power-play unit. He has nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 17 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
New York forward Barclay Goodrow is playing in Game 4. He did not participate in the morning skate after he was hobbled blocking a shot with his left foot during a Tampa Bay power play in the third period of Game 3.
Goodrow left the ice and went to the dressing room after blocking the shot but returned less than five minutes later and finished the game. He missed 11 straight games earlier in the playoffs because of an injury to his left foot that required him to be on crutches and in a walking boot. He has one assist in six playoff games.
