Steven Stamkos is back on the ice, eager to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning into the NHL playoffs.
The five-time all-star missed the last three games of the regular season with a lower-body injury. He returned to practice this week and hopes to be ready Thursday for the start of a first-round series against the New Jersey Devils.
"It was obviously tough," said Stamkos, who watched the Lightning go 2-0-1 down the stretch to hold off the Boston Bruins for the Atlantic Division title and No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
"You want to be in those games. But the more important games are now, and I just want to make sure I feel as good as possible heading into the playoffs," the team's second-leading scorer added. "Hopefully it keeps progressing and I can feel good come Thursday."
Stamkos, a two-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner, rebounded from missing most of last season with a knee injury to bolster the NHL's most prolific offence with 27 goals and a career-high 59 assists for 86 points in 78 games.
The 28-year-old centre anticipates a tough matchup against the young Devils, who won all three regular-season meetings between the teams.
"It doesn't really matter where you finish (in the standings) any more. All these other teams are their own different animals come playoff time," Stamkos said. "It's a fresh start once you get into the playoffs. Regular season is regular season. We all know that."
Stamkos' health figures as a key to the series.
He missed 65 games after undergoing surgery to repair a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee last season, when the Lightning narrowly missed the playoffs. Two years ago, a blood clot discovered near his collarbone sidelined the centre from late in the regular season until Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, when Tampa Bay lost to eventual Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh.
The Lightning didn't practice Tuesday, but coach Jon Cooper said the team remained hopeful of having Stamkos back for Game 1 against the Devils.
Optimistic
Stamkos is optimistic, too, though with his history of injuries in recent seasons he has no illusions about being completely healthy when he returns.
"Listen, my body will never be 100 per cent, regardless, going through the stuff I've been through," the No. 1 overall pick from the 2008 draft said. "So there's no point asking about percentages."
In the West, the already-deep top-seeded Nashville Predators are on the verge of getting forward Calle Jarnkrok back after he missed almost the final month of the regular season with an upper-body injury. Jarnkrok had 16 goals and 19 assists for 35 points in 68 games with Nashville, which opens against Colorado.
"I think he's getting real close," general manager David Poile said. "We get into this time of the year, so I guess you'd have to say he's day-to-day."
Washington Capitals coach Barry Trotz called forwards T.J. Oshie (lower body) and Jay Beagle (upper body) day-to-day, too. In the first round, they'll have to deal with Columbus captain Nick Foligno, who's ready to rejoin the Blue Jackets lineup after missing time with a lower-body injury.
A few high-profile defencemen weren't as fortunate, and their injuries could prove costly. Boston lost Brandon Carlo and Minnesota lost Ryan Suter to broken ankles, and Winnipeg won't have Dmitry Kulikov after back surgery. Winnipeg faces Minnesota in the first round.
It's the second consecutive playoffs Carlo missed after he was concussed by Alex Ovechkin a year ago.
"It's the one thing he's been looking forward to," Krug said of Carlo. "Obviously he went through it last year missing the time and this year he was excited for it. You feel awful. It's a tough break."
Coach Bruce Cassidy said: "It sucks, honestly, for a guy that's played almost every regular-season game. ... It's disappointing for me. He's a well-liked guy on this team and done a lot, so that's disheartening."
The Bruins are optimistic injured forwards Rick Nash, Riley Nash and Sean Kuraly will be ready for Game 1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.
"They're all working that way," Boston GM Don Sweeney said. "Hopefully they'll all be available."
Blues' Tarasenko to have surgery on shoulder
St. Louis Blues star forward Vladimir Tarasenko has a dislocated left shoulder and will undergo surgery on Wednesday.
Tarasenko was hurt in the first period of the regular-season finale on Saturday in Colorado. The Blues needed a point in the game to reach the playoffs, but lost 5-2.
Tarasenko revealed he had a dislocated shoulder while standing with his left arm in a sling Tuesday as teammates cleared out their lockers. The recovery after surgery can take up to six months.
"We'll see how it goes," Tarasenko said. "It was a hard year all the way around."
The 26-year-old led the team with 33 goals and 66 points. It was his lowest point total in four seasons.
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