Late-season matchup between Lightning and Leafs lends itself to great theatre

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
March 15, 2017

TAMPA, Fla. – Now the sprint begins.

With 13 games remaining in the regular season for Tampa Bay and the Lightning now tied for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference – the Islanders own the tie breaker based on more regulation/overtime wins – the intensity now starts to ramp up to new levels.

With the return of former Lightning forward Brian Boyle and the Toronto Maple Leafs in town for a Thursday showdown 7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Sun, 970-AM, tblpowerplay.com with big time playoff implications, the spotlight burns brighter.

And with the bright lights coming down, the one question many want to know, what does it all mean for the Lightning’s biggest star – Steven Stamkos?

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As Stamkos has begun to appear more and more on the ice with his teammates, the thought of his potential return to the ice grows more and more each day.

Out since Nov. 15 due to a partially torn meniscus in his right knee that required surgery, Stamkos was diagnosed to be out four-to-six months. The four-month mark from the surgery date is Friday.

Though the early indication was it would take the Lightning getting to the playoffs for Stamkos to have a chance to return this season, that timetable may have been pushed up, even if the team is not saying anything publicly on the matter.

Head coach Jon Cooper joked after Tuesday’s game in Ottawa that the four-month threshold has been reached so that means he’s “coming back in the next two’’ days but quickly re-established the reality of the situation.

”We don’t have a timetable on him but it’s encouraging to watch him out there skating,’’ Cooper said. “He’s been coming on the road as well as (Ryan) Callahan, and that’s another part of them showing leadership in keeping our group together. But in all honesty I don’t have a timetable on him.’’

There have been whispers that a return to the lineup could come as soon as Thursday against the Leafs. Imagine the kind of drama that would create, the Lightning captain emerging from the tunnel on to the ice, returning after four months to try and put a stake in the heart of the team many perceived he spurned in free agency this past summer.

That type of theater would be tremendous to watch unfold.

But Stamkos has not participated in a full practice with the team and a return to the ice seems highly unlikely until that occurs. And there has been no indication he has full medical clearance to take full contact or when that time might come.

There is one thing that is clear, there is no reason to rush Stamkos back, even with Tampa Bay in the playoff chance despite losing centers Tyler Johnson, Vladislav Namestnikov and Cedric Paquette to injuries in the past week.

“It’s bad enough we lost him as a centerman but then we preceded to lose just about every other one after that, but he’s on his way back,’’ Cooper said. “And the one way I guess to make sure he may play is to get in to the playoffs and that would add some more time in healing, but he’s a part of our franchise, he’s the core of our franchise, so until doctors and Steven Stamkos say “I’m ready to go’’, he’s not going on the ice.’’

So while a watchful eye will be kept on Stamkos and his progression on a return, the Lightning continue to plug away and pick up points in the standings. An overtime victory at Ottawa the latest on the stretch.

“We have something going on right now it’s is really fun to be a part of, somehow we just keep finding ways to win,’’ defenseman Victor Hedman said.

Tampa Bay is riding a 12-2-3 run that started on Feb. 4 that has seen the Lightning climb from out of the cellar of the Eastern Conference standings in to playoff contention in a little over a month. But reaching a playoff spot and maintaining offer two different sort of challenges.

The Florida Panthers know all too well about that. Since Florida swept a five-game road trip that pulled the Panthers in to the third spot in the Atlantic Division – which opened up suggestions Florida could catch Montreal for the division lead – the Panthers have just two wins.

The Lightning are well aware of the potential pitfall.

”We are not satisfied,’’ defenseman Anton Stralman said. “We are not there yet. This little stretch of games has kept us in the race. Right now we are still out, but we are right there, too. It’s about consistency, this race is not going to end on one game here or there, it’s going to be the team that is the most consistent in these past 10 to 12 games that are left. There are some big games left against some teams that we are battling against. We just have to keep our composure and take things one game at a time.’’

The next one, though, is one that will capture the attention of the hockey world, with the Lightning streaking and the Leafs reeling after a 7-2 loss on Tuesday to Florida. The winner takes a big step forward in the playoff chase.

”Does it add a little bit because it’s the Leafs and the position we’re in? It should be a fun time Thursday night,’’ Cooper said. “But there’s still a lot of hockey left to play. Just because it’s the Leafs and we’re battling them, we’ve just got to keep getting points, regardless who it’s against. We’ve just got to keep playing the way we are.”

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