Lightning's Jon Cooper out 2 games after father's death

Field Level Media|published: 02/25/2026, 12:07pm EST

Sep 26, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper looks on against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The Tampa Bay Lightning return from the Olympic break without head coach Jon Cooper, who will miss two games following the death of his father.

The team announced that Cooper, 58, will miss Wednesday night's home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Thursday's road contest versus the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Lightning (37-14-4) entered Wednesday tied atop the Eastern Conference with the Hurricanes with 78 points.

Cooper just wrapped up a silver medal-winning performance as the head coach of Team Canada at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Canada lost to the United States 2-1 in overtime in Sunday's final.

Cooper is 609-320-87 with two Stanley Cup championships since taking over as head coach of the Lightning on March 25, 2013.

Cooper is expected to be back behind the bench for Saturday's home game against the Buffalo Sabres.

Lightning assistant coaches Jeff Halpern, Rob Zettler and Dan Hinote are expected to handle the coaching duties in Cooper's absence.

--Field Level Media