The forward did not practice Wednesday after missing Tampa Bay's 4-1 victory in Game 1 of the best-of-7 series Tuesday. He was injured during Game 7 of the first round against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Defenseman Zach Bogosian also did not practice, because of an unspecified reason, but coach Jon Cooper said he expects Bogosian and defenseman Erik Cernak to play Thursday.
RELATED: [Complete Panthers vs. Lightning series coverage]
Cernak practiced Wednesday after leaving Game 2 after blocking a shot by Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour with 6:20 remaining in the second period.
"We've got some guys banged up," Cooper said. "That was a tough shot he blocked there. … and he was right back out there today, so we anticipate him playing tomorrow."
With Point out for Game 1, the Lightning dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen, which proved helpful after Cernak was injured. But they needed a group effort without Point, who had four points (two goals, two assists) in seven games in the first round against the Maple Leafs after he had 58 points (28 goals, 30 assists) in 66 regular-season games.
Forwards Nikita Kucherov and Corey Perry each had a goal and an assist, fourth-line center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare scored a rebound goal 3:35 into the third period to break a 1-1 tie and goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy made 33 saves. Ryan McDonagh led the way defensively with four of Tampa Bay's 16 blocked shots.
"I think it's unfair to put anything on one player and say, 'This guy has to step up and this guy has to step up,'" Cooper said. "This is a team game. The coaches have to step up. Everybody does, and that's what you do. … Your organization has to be deep. Everybody has to be on the same page."
The Panthers likely will be without forward Mason Marchment for the fourth straight game because of a lower-body injury. Marchment, who has not played since Game 4 of the first round against the Washington Capitals, did not participate in Florida's optional practice Wednesday.
"He's day to day," Panthers coach Andrew Brunette said. "Probably not available tomorrow, so hopefully soon."
