TAMPA — Matt Carle has earned the highest praise Lightning coach Jon Cooper can bestow.
He’s a consummate pro.
After a frustrating season marked by many nights when Carle was a healthy scratch, the 31-year-old defenseman is filling in effectively for injured Anton Stralman as the Lightning head to Detroit ahead 2-0 in their best-of-7 playoff series.
“I’m just trying to fill Anton’s shoes as much as possible,’’ said Carle, who averaged 25 shifts in the two games at Amalie Arena, registering five hits and four blocked shots while being paired with Victor Hedman. “I’ve been around long enough and seen guys go through similar situations.