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Bolts mum on what’s ailing Brian Boyle

Rangers Advance Hockey

FILE - In this Nov. 26, 2014, file photo, Tampa Bay Lightning center Brian Boyle (11) skates before an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers in Tampa, Fla. The New York Rangers will see some very familiar faces in the lineup of their opponent in the Eastern Conference finals: Tampa Bay’s Brian Boyle, Anton Stralman and, if he recovers quickly enough from an appendectomy, former captain Ryan Callahan. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara, File)

AP

Ah yes, the playoffs -- where injury information is guarded with the kind of zeal normally reserved for the Secret Service.

On Monday, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper offered virtually nothing on the status of injured forward Brian Boyle, who (somewhat surprisingly) missed Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Rangers with an upper-body injury.

“The update is there is no update,” Cooper said on Monday.

The Bolts further added to the mystery by having Boyle skate this morning, followed by an “organizational decision” to keep him away from reporters afterward. There was no word if he’d draw in for Game 2 or not.

The towering fourth-line center has been a key contributor for Tampa Bay this spring. He appeared in all 13 playoff games prior to Saturday’s 2-1 loss at MSG and, while he only has two points, Boyle has been good in the faceoff circle, sitting third on the team in draws taken (162) and in winning percentage (53.7).

The former Ranger also has a wealth of playoff experience, with 71 games on his resume.

Related: Bolts coach makes it clear why Drouin isn’t playing