He experienced a setback after that and has yet to return to full practices.Stamkos scored 66 points (29 goals, 37 assists) in 57 regular-season games, second on the Lightning behind forward.Stamkos joined the Lightning on the ice for the celebration after they clinched their spot in the Stanley Cup Final with a 2-1 overtime win against the New York Islanders in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final on Thursday. The Tampa Bay Lightning are back in the Stanley Cup Final and they've made it without captain Steven Stamkos appearing in any playoff games. It’s obvious that Stamkos has suffered some sort of setback in his rehab that is preventing him from joining the club at full strength. And if there is somebody that is working harder than him [in trying to get back], I’ve not seen it.

In fact, his return may be even more in doubt than before.

Or will Jon Cooper and Tampa win their first championship since 2004?Give us your Stanley Cup predictions in the comments. All rights reserved.by Back then, losing Stamkos meant that the Lightning lost their number one center and top goal scorer. "He's been skating on and off," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said Monday.

Vegas grapples with 5-game series loss,The Wraparound: Lightning try to close out Islanders in Game 5,Capitals hire Peter Laviolette as new head coach,Stanley Cup Playoffs Conference Final schedule,stick with my preseason picks as far as they’ll go,I had the Lightning as my champion in 6 games with Andrei Vasilevskiy as my Conn Smythe winner,walking away from an explosion like in an action movie.

For one thing, the offense is much deeper. Then again, given the Stars made it to this point without much production from Seguin, perhaps he’ll bring a welcome boost and make his team an even tougher out.The Stanley Cup Playoffs continue on Saturday, Sept. 19 in the hub city of Edmonton. That said, Pavelski slogged through a sluggish series against Vegas. TV, NHL Premium, NHL After Dark, NHL GameCenter, NHL GameCenter LIVE, NHL Network name and logo, NHL Tonight name and logo, On The Fly, NHL Awards name and logo, NHL Draft name and logo, NHL Mascots, Hockey Fights Cancer, Because It's The Cup, NHL Green name and logo, NHL Vault, Hockey Is For Everyone, NHL Thanksgiving Showdown name and logo, NHL Centennial Classic name and logo, NHL Centennial Season logo, NHL100 Classic name and logo, NHL Global Series name and logo, NHL China Games name and logo, NHL Power Players name and logo, and Don't Miss A Moment are trademarks of the National Hockey League. Stamkos has 'good chance' of playing for Lightning in Cup Qualifiers #NHLTopPlayers: Top Centers, Nos. ".Stamkos participated in drills with the top power-play unit during training camp in July but did not participate in a full practice until after the Lightning arrived in Toronto, the hub city for the Eastern Conference through the second round of the playoffs, July 26. Stamkos began skating with his teammates earlier this week, so he's clearly making progress in his rehab, but there's still no timetable for his return to game action. Expect further updates on Stamkos' health throughout the week as the team enters the NHL "bubble" in Toronto on Sunday.Stamkos was also a non-participant in Monday's intra-squad scrimmage as he continues to work his way back from a lower-body issue, though he did skate with the non-practice group. NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup, the Stanley Cup Playoffs logo, the Stanley Cup Final logo, Center Ice name and logo, NHL Conference logos, NHL Winter Classic name, and The Biggest Assist Happens Off The Ice are registered trademarks and Stanley Cup Qualifiers name and logo, NHL.TV, Vintage Hockey word mark and logo, The Game Lives Where You Do, NHL Winter Classic logo, NHL Heritage Classic name and logo, NHL Stadium Series name and logo, NHL All-Star logo, NHL Face-Off name and logo, NHL. A team with a lethal power play can gain an advantage if they’re able to convert. He’s not going to be available tomorrow [Saturday’s game against Philly]. Throughout the postseason there was almost daily speculation as to when he might be able to return. The Lightning didn’t need him for the first round, where they dispatched the,In the Eastern Conference Finals expectations heightened, and with.Now, things are following a similar pattern. The veteran has still yet to be ruled out of the playoffs entirely, so his next chance to suit up would presumably be for the Stanley Cup Final in late September.According to general manager Julien BriseBois, although,Due to the NHL's new injury update policy, the,Stamkos still has yet to resume practicing with his teammates, and until that happens, he should be considered out indefinitely. Tom Gulitti,Complete Lightning vs. Stars series coverage,Video: TBL@VGK: Stamkos buries Hedman's dish for PPG. If he plays well, the Stars are going to have a real shot.

If there is any doubt in regards to his health he should not be playing. The Stars, to their credit, have already gotten through two similarly built teams in Colorado and Vegas, and in the latter case it was largely due to Khudobin’s play.

If something comes, I will update you. If he does not, well, that is a.Khudobin is going through a stretch of outstanding playing time that he has never done before in the NHL. "You don't get here without getting dinged up a little bit. ".NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. One thing we know about Saturday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers - Steven Stamkos isn’t going to play. I’ll save us any more questions about Stammer.

You bet it has been.