Adam Gretz is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. ET – NBC (livestream) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Flipboard (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window). Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify, Blue Rush: A NY Giants Podcast *Game 6: Monday, Sept. 28, 8 p.m. While Stamkos wasn’t ready to declare his status for the remainder of the series, his road to get to this point has not gone unnoticed by his teammates. In addition to the team’s medical staff, Stamkos saw other NHL doctors. “Just to be able to get out into a game and have an impact on a game, which a month ago may have never been possible … I was just really happy to obviously contribute in a game that I didn’t play too much.”, After the game, Stamkos said he experienced an “issue” and that it was “too early” to decide if he would be available to play in Game 4 Friday. THE BEST INSIGHTS FROM THE ULTIMATE INSIDERS, Pinstripe Pod: A NY Yankees Podcast The reaction of Lightning head coach Jon Cooper after the goal summed up the moment. He replaced Carter Verhaeghe on that line. https://www.foxnews.com/sports/steven-stamkos-lightning-stars-game-3 “Just seeing him day in, day out, the positivity he brings and the leadership he brings even when he’s not playing has been huge for us. His return on Wednesday is reminiscent of when he missed all but one game of 2015-16 Stanley Cup Playoffs, returning for the Lightning’s Game 7 loss in the Eastern Conference Final. Fortunately for him, the depth of the Lightning allowed a return to be possible. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Your California Privacy Rights Just 6:58 into the first period, and on his third shift of the night, Stamkos scored to give the Lightning a 2-0 lead over the Dallas Stars. “You watch the kid, what he’s done for the last, god, how many months? Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @Sean_Leahy. As Stamkos kept rehabbing and trying for a quick return, the tear on the left side formed and worsened. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify, Amazin' But True: A NY Mets Podcast The … Your California Privacy Rights Privacy Notice “Our group feels like we’ve got a recipe in how we want to play,” said defenseman Ryan McDonagh. The cheer from the bench was just a little bit louder. For us to see him work that hard to get back in the lineup and then score one, it’s pretty inspirational for our bench.”, Stars 4, Lightning 1 (recap) That changed on Wednesday when he started the game on the fourth line with Cedric Paquette and Patrick Maroon. Get the latest odds on all the top sports. Stamkos had been sidelined since the end of February due to a lower-body injury and surgery to repair a core muscle injury. Stamkos played five shifts in the first period but wasn't on the bench for the start of the second period. Steven Stamkos could return to the Tampa Bay Lightning during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, general manager Julien BriseBois told The Athletic on Tuesday. We've received your submission. ET – NBC. So when his wrist shot flew over Anton Khudodin’s blocker, it was a moment he’d been waiting a long time for. Stamkos was having another monster season for the Lightning — recording 66 points (29 goals, 37 assists) in 57 regular season games — before his injury knocked him out of the lineup. The March pause saw the 2019-20 NHL season hang in the balance, and when there was clarity on a resumption of play, he had to exit the lineup again hoping to come back during the playoffs. After 211 days away, Steven Stamkos returned for the Lightning in Game 3 and scored despite playing only five shifts during Tampa's win. Would you like to receive desktop browser notifications about breaking news and other major stories? Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. “You marvel at players,” Cooper said. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @AGretz. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Your Ad Choices But the storybook narrative took a turn when Stamkos appeared to be consulting with a team trainer on the bench after just five shifts before he was glued to the bench for the final two periods. He eventually returned to the bench but was not taking a regular shift with his line. It was in early March that Stamkos underwent core muscle surgery and it has been two months since he was re-injured and miss everyone of Tampa’s Stanley Cup Playoff games before Game 3. Cameras caught the emphatic reaction from the Tampa Bay bench as they watched Stamkos score on his first shot since February. The smile on Steven Stamkos‘ face was bigger than usual. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. It had been 211 days since Stamkos last played in a game. Stamkos had been left to be the team’s biggest cheerleader while he waited for the day he’d return to the lineup. It is the first Stanley Cup Final goal of his career and it came on his very first shot this postseason. All that work since March has paid off. He’s had at least one setback since then. “But I’m focused on winning right now, and tonight was a step in the right direction.”. “He only had five shifts, but probably an efficient five shifts as you’re ever going to see in a National Hockey League playoff game. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Flipboard (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), March that Stamkos underwent core muscle surgery. Game 4: Friday, Sept. 25, 8 p.m. Stamkos (lower body) will not return to the lineup against the Blue Jackets for Game 4 on Monday, Joe Smith of The Athletic reports. “You want to have a say and you want to contribute.”. For the first time in nearly seven months Steven Stamkos was back in the lineup for the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final. 10 gift ideas that are on sale for Amazon Prime Day, The best headphone deals you can buy this Amazon Prime Day, The best Amazon Prime Day deals you can buy today, Amazon takes up to 30 percent off Fitbit devices for Prime Day, Marshall speakers up to 35 percent off for Amazon Prime Day, Cardi B was in bed with Offset when she accidentally posted her nude photo. Lightning 5, Stars 2 (recap) He wasted no time in making an impact. He registered less than three minutes of ice time, all in the first period, and was late coming out of the locker room after the first intermission. “He’s worked extremely hard to get back to a spot where he could play,” said Brayden Point. “I think that the cheer was just a little bit louder,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. After 211 days away, the Tampa Bay Lightning captain returned to the lineup for Game 3 and made an impact — albeit in a brief appearance. Lightning captain Steven Stamkos celebrates after scoring a goal in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final. The highly anticipated return of captain Steven Stamkos was so close to being something out of a fairytale for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Game 5: Saturday, Sept. 26, 8 p.m. ET – NBC “No matter who’s going over the boards, no matter how many times you’re asked to go over, you see the effort and will from everybody, and that’s what’s been the key for us.”. But that one goal? Just 6:58 into the first period, and on his third shift of the night, Stamkos scored to give the Lightning a 2-0 lead over the Dallas Stars. Stamkos made his 2020 playoff debut in the Lightning’s 5-2 victory over the Dallas Stars in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final Wednesday night, helping his team take a 2-1 series lead with a goal on the first shot he took. Stamkos put the Lightning up 2-0 following a slick move along the boards to avoid the check by Stars defenseman Esa Lindell before sniping one past goalie Anton Khudobin. Injuries have been an issue for Stamkos throughout his career and this was just the latest one to knock him out of the lineup for a significant period of time through the playoffs. I think however Stammer was feeling at that moment, all the players expressed it on the bench.”. It was a long road back to the ice. “There’s been a lot of hard work and different things going on behind the scenes,” Stamkos told reporters after the game. Sean Leahy is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify, Gang's All Here: A NY Jets Podcast Before Wednesday night, Stamkos last played Feb. 25, with his last goal coming Feb. 20. Terms of Use Thanks for contacting us. Lightning 3, Stars 2 (recap) Those moments watching were excruciating for him, and each series win brought another lifeline. The highly anticipated return of captain Steven Stamkos was so close to being something out of a fairytale for the Tampa Bay Lightning. … It was pretty damn cool.”. It had been 211 days since Stamkos last played in a game. © 2020 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Stanley Cup hero hasn't forgotten about his Rangers exile, 'Like an animal:' NHL players weren't thrilled with bubbles, Lightning hold off Stars to even Stanley Cup Final, How ineligible goalie phenom has benefited from Islanders' playoff run, A recurring problem has followed Adam Gase to Jets, There is no easy answer to tricky Yankees conflict: Sherman. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify, © 2020 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved For the first time in nearly seven months Steven Stamkos was back in the lineup for the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final. Sitemap And for him to be able to do that, I don’t know. In the Eastern Conference Finals expectations heightened, and with Ben Bishop ’s injury in Game One, the pressure increased for Stamkos to return. He had a 15-game point streak going at the time of his injury this season and with his goal on Wednesday has now recorded at least one point in each of his past 16 games played. *Game 7: Wednesday, Sept. 30, 8 p.m. “At this time of the year you want to do anything you can to help your team win,” said Stamkos, who found out he’d be playing after Tuesday’s skate. “It’s so painful to just sit and watch and feel like you have no part of the game because you’re way more nervous watching the games,” Stamkos said. ET – NBC (livestream) Steven Stamkos made a very brief appearance for the Tampa Bay Lightning Wednesday night in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final. Stamkos played only five shifts and 2:47 during Tampa’s 5-2 victory, but it was a worthwhile experience. He returned to the lineup for the first time in seven months, scored a goal on his only shot, and then spent the rest of the game sitting on the bench, presumably because he was still not 100%. The injury has been designated only as “lower body.”, “There are a lot of behind-the-scenes things I can share with you after the season,” he said. “I’ve watched these guys be so committed to what our end goal is and to be part of it tonight, it was a dream come true, and I’m so proud of these guys to be able to share that moment with them.”. Biden introduced Ukraine exec to VP dad: emails, Patriots teammate's 'annoyed' wife denies Cam Newton dinner, Colts make Philip Rivers decision after 'dramatic' message, Hunter Biden emails show leveraging links with dad to boost Burisma pay, Ex-White House physician 'convinced' Biden not fit for office. His goal 6:58 into the game gave the Lightning a 2-0 lead over the Dallas Stars.

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