Coach Jon Cooper said he expects Coburn (lower body) to play in Game 1 of the Lightning's first-round playoff series against the Red Wings on Thursday, Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Coburn has been able to take contact while skating with the team the last few days, and with no setbacks with his injury to date, he appears to be trending toward a return to game action. The Lightning will still have to formally activate Coburn from injured reserve in order to facilitate his re-entry in the lineup, but that should take place following Thursday's morning skate. Expect Coburn, who was limited by injury to just four games with the Lightning after being acquired from the Flyers at the trade deadline, to assume a role on the team's third defensive pairing.