Erik Erlendsson: Stamkos ready? Stralman and Bishop day-to-day Tampa Bay Lightning receive good news on goaltender Ben Bishop while Anton Stralman appears close. But how close is Steven Stamkos?

Erik Erlendsson: Stamkos ready? Stralman and Bishop day-to-day
Tampa Bay Lightning receive good news on goaltender Ben Bishop while Anton Stralman appears close. But how close is Steven Stamkos?
- Erik Erlendsson

here hoping.

Great news to hear everyone is getting healthy!

Hope the Bolts keep up there current play and it has to be encouraging to the team that Bishop, Stamkos and Stralman are close to returning to continue to push.

Seems like they are rushing Stamkos back.
Hope it doesn't backfire.

Seems like they are rushing Stamkos back.
Hope it doesn't backfire.
- StargateSG1

I think its more Stamkos is rushing Stamkos back, our goalie Vasilevskiy was playing in 54 days after the same surgery. Stamkos come game 4 on Friday would be at 46 days. He wants to play, if the DRs clear him why would the Lightning not play him?

Seems like they are rushing Stamkos back.
Hope it doesn't backfire.
- StargateSG1

Win a cup

Then he walks

That's the plan

I think its more Stamkos is rushing Stamkos back, our goalie Vasilevskiy was playing in 54 days after the same surgery. Stamkos come game 4 on Friday would be at 46 days. He wants to play, if the DRs clear him why would the Lightning not play him?
- stammerman

And Vasy being a goalie taking shots is more problematic for blood clots. If he's off blood thinners he should be good to go, maybe at home for game 3

Win a cup

Then he walks

That's the plan
- HB77

Yup. Tho his performance could dictate whether a prospective buyer wants to pay TB a bit prior to free agency.

Seems like they are rushing Stamkos back.
Hope it doesn't backfire.
- StargateSG1

What does tb care about his health. He's gone after this season. I hope he's okay as he's the next captain of the leafs.


The further Pitt goes the worse the leafs pic will be. Go Tb. They kinda ripped our jersey anyway.

Stamkos has switched to an injectable blood thinner medication. This could potentially allow him to play while still being on medication.

https://twitter.com/iyer_...status/731999683049082880

The fact that there's a very real chance Stamkos and Stralman can be back by tomorrow makes dropping game 1 that much more of a Jimbo on the Pens' part.

Still, while a big part of me is extremely worried, another part of me is happy to see the best going up against the best. Too much talent on both of these teams to put an asterisk by the series due to key injuries.

The fact that there's a very real chance Stamkos and Stralman can be back by tomorrow makes dropping game 1 that much more of a Jimbo on the Pens' part.

Still, while a big part of me is extremely worried, another part of me is happy to see the best going up against the best. Too much talent on both of these teams to put an asterisk by the series due to key injuries.
- Victoro311

Any chance sprong or BB see the ice?

Any chance sprong or BB see the ice?
- Feds91Stammer

No. Bennett has been quoted several times since his last injury saying that he'd just be a liability out there because he'd be hesitant playing physical due to fear of reinjury. He's also said he's thought about retirement. Basically his confidence has officially hit zero and he's probably done as an NHL player. Meanwhile, Evgeny Kuznetsov is an olympic caliber player for a devision rival

All the reports say Sprong is electric on offense, but his defensive short comings make him a net negative, even at the AHL sometimes. I don't think we see him during the playoffs this year.

Thats a shame. Hate seeing a Cali kid not continue to make it. I know the area hes from. Have family in that area. I root for him.

Thats a shame. Hate seeing a Cali kid not continue to make it. I know the area hes from. Have family in that area. I root for him.
- poisondhearts37

I was a Beau defender for a really long time. People use to bash him for being a bad hockey player when his problem was always health and not skill. But it's time for both player and team to move on now. His body is just not built for the sport. Feel bad for him. Seems like a really good guy.

What does tb care about his health. He's gone after this season. I hope he's okay as he's the next captain of the leafs.


The further Pitt goes the worse the leafs pic will be. Go Tb. They kinda ripped our jersey anyway.
- 50 Mission Cap

It's always about you isn't it? Our captain our pick our jersey. He might go home that's his prerogative but why go home to a team that might not see the playoffs for another 4 or 5 years unless you like golf in April. We thank you for stopping by in the Playoffs to keep your dreams alive but we are still living ours so please enjoy yourself I guess you have nothing else to do these days

If Stamkos is ready for Game 3 and TB is up 2-0, do you play him? He's obviously a huge talent, but there's also something to be said for the team rallying around not having its perceived top player.

If Stamkos is ready for Game 3 and TB is up 2-0, do you play him? He's obviously a huge talent, but there's also something to be said for the team rallying around not having its perceived top player.
- jmatchett383

No if he's ready and not at risk you play your best players. Even if he's not at the top of his game which I doubt anyone would believe he needs the ice time at playoff speed and competition level. Maybe he centres the third line for a game or two.

No if he's ready and not at risk you play your best players. Even if he's not at the top of his game which I doubt anyone would believe he needs the ice time at playoff speed and competition level. Maybe he centres the third line for a game or two.
- tpd11

I get it. I just think back to the 2000 playoff for the Flyers. Lindros has been out with a collapsed lung and the team had rallied around him being out and had a 3-2 series lead in the ECF. Lindros came back and the team leaned on him and lost the fight they had. Of course, it ended with the Stevens hit in Game 7.

Years after the series, a lot of the players said that they lost the "us against the world" feeling they had when Lindros came back and would have preferred that he stayed out until at least the end of the round, and I wonder if TB may have the same issue.

I get it. I just think back to the 2000 playoff for the Flyers. Lindros has been out with a collapsed lung and the team had rallied around him being out and had a 3-2 series lead in the ECF. Lindros came back and the team leaned on him and lost the fight they had. Of course, it ended with the Stevens hit in Game 7.

Years after the series, a lot of the players said that they lost the "us against the world" feeling they had when Lindros came back and would have preferred that he stayed out until at least the end of the round, and I wonder if TB may have the same issue.
- jmatchett383

A team that made it to the cup finals doesn't need any special mentality to win. Stamkos would only be adding another weapon. Same goes for stralman.

I had been of the opinion that the Wash/Pitt series was basically the ECF with all of the injuries that Tampa was dealing with (and that they never really seemed to click this season in the way that they did during last season's run to the Finals). Really impressive performance Friday night, Drouin has really provided an element that maybe was missing during the season. We'll see how it goes tonight, but at the moment I'm thinking the Pens are in trouble.

I had been of the opinion that the Wash/Pitt series was basically the ECF with all of the injuries that Tampa was dealing with (and that they never really seemed to click this season in the way that they did during last season's run to the Finals). Really impressive performance Friday night, Drouin has really provided an element that maybe was missing during the season. We'll see how it goes tonight, but at the moment I'm thinking the Pens are in trouble.
- MadCap2008

The Bolts have speed, they have skilled Fs, they hit and fore check, they have big fast skating D and good goalies. I said the same thing for every opponents fans the Lightning have played so far who have come on our board to talk hockey in the playoffs, they might not win the series but the Lightning will not stop fighting and will keep coming - they are a team and they play as a team - 5 on 5 they are awesome (if only we could get the power play to match).

The Lightning also has crazy depth this season. They will not be an easy out by any means and I think they and all the Lightning fans find it a little crazy how everyone has brushed them off. Yeah maybe the Wings and Islanders were not the best playoff opponents but you play who is put in front of you and they finished them in 10 games. This is going to be a great series with all the skill and speed, can't wait for it to continue tonight.

The Bolts have speed, they have skilled Fs, they hit and fore check, they have big fast skating D and good goalies. I said the same thing for every opponents fans the Lightning have played so far who have come on our board to talk hockey in the playoffs, they might not win the series but the Lightning will not stop fighting and will keep coming - they are a team and they play as a team - 5 on 5 they are awesome (if only we could get the power play to match).

The Lightning also has crazy depth this season. They will not be an easy out by any means and I think they and all the Lightning fans find it a little crazy how everyone has brushed them off. Yeah maybe the Wings and Islanders were not the best playoff opponents but you play who is put in front of you and they finished them in 10 games. This is going to be a great series with all the skill and speed, can't wait for it to continue tonight.
- stammerman

Yeah, I think in every series so far the majority of opposing fans and analysts have picked against Tampa, yet they continue to win games.