Point hasn't played since sustaining a lower-body injury in Game 7 of the first round against the Toronto Maple Leafs on May 14.
"He makes progress every day and I think when you start getting closer, maybe the anticipation gets to be a little bit more," coach Jon Cooper said during the Lightning's optional morning skate Tuesday. "So hopefully there's no more setbacks and we can see him at some point. But it's definitely not tonight."
Cooper said last week that Tampa Bay was preparing as if Point won't play in the best-of-7 series, which it trails in 2-1 after rallying for a 3-2 victory in Game 3 on Sunday. Point has skated six of the past seven days, creating more hope that he could play in this series, but it sounds unlikely he'll be ready for Game 5 at New York on Thursday.
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"If it goes seven (games), then optimism stays up," Cooper said. "If it is a five-game series, it's a little dicier. So it's just time. It's just going to take time."
Point had four points (two goals, two assists) in seven games this postseason before he was injured, including the overtime winner in a 4-3 victory in Game 6 against the Maple Leafs. He led the NHL with 14 playoff goals in 2020 and 2021 to help Tampa Bay win back-to-back Stanley Cup championships and his 30 playoff goals in 53 games are most in the NHL over the past three seasons.
The Lightning swept the Florida Panthers in four games in the second round without Point but have had a more difficult time against the Rangers.
"I'm pretty sure it's been tough the whole time on him," Cooper said. "What's it been, three weeks or whatever? It's a pretty grueling time when you want to be out there with your teammates, and you have to sit back and watch. I think with every win, it probably feels a little bit better for him, but it's a tough time regardless of if it's day one or day 21. So we feel for him."
