The Tampa Bay Lightning have announced that captain Steven Stamkos will not play tonight against the New Jersey Devils. It is a late injury announcement, as Stamkos did not take the ice for warmups ahead of the Lightning’s matchup with the Devils. The Steven Stamkos injury is day-to-day.
Update: Steven Stamkos is day-to-day with a lower-body injury and will not play tonight in New Jersey.
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) March 14, 2023
Steven Stamkos Out Day-to-Day With Lower-Body Injury
Stamkos injured his left leg on March 11 in a 3-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. He left the game late in the first period and did not return. He played the next day against Winnipeg and blocked a hard shot with the same leg, but was able to finish the game.
Stamkos has played 15 seasons in the NHL, all of them with Tampa Bay. He has 508 goals and 530 assists in 989 career games. He led the Lightning to back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships in 2020 and 2021 and has reached the final series two other times. The former first-round draft pick has 27 goals and 39 assists on the season, with a Corsi for of 50.23.
Impact of Steven Stamkos Injury
Stamkos is an integral part of this Lightning team. He’s been the captain since 2014 and is a high-powered offensive player. He is clutch when the team needs him to be. The injury comes on the back half of a more difficult season for Tampa Bay. They’re currently holding onto the third spot in the Atlantic division, with the Florida Panthers nine points behind. If the injury remains minor and Stamkos can stay day-to-day, the Lightning appear to be in a good spot heading into the last stretch of the season. If the injury is worse than the Lightning are letting on, then it could turn into more of a showdown between the two Florida teams. Brandon Hagel will move to the top line in Stamkos’ absence and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare slots in at center on the fourth line.