Steven Stamkos: Is the Lightning captain playing in Game 6?

Jackie Spiegel

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Steven Stamkos: Is the Lightning captain playing in Game 6? image

The Lightning's captain Steven Stamkos suited up for his first game in bubble hockey in Game 3. He may have only skated a total of two minutes and 47 seconds — but he made a massive impact as he netted a goal on his only shot and propelled his squad to the win.

But will he suit up again? It doesn't appear so.

He said postgame on Wednesday that he's working through an issue and added "it was too early" to say if he would be able to play in Game 4 on Friday, or in the remainder of the series. On Sunday, coach Jon Cooper confirmed he will not play in Game 6 or, if there is one, Game 7.

Stamkos posted 66 points (29 goals, 37 assists) in 57 games during the truncated 2019-20 season. In 71 career playoff games, he has now collected 24 goals and 30 assists — including 18 postseason points when the Lightning last went to the Stanley Cup Final back in 2015.

When he plays, Stamkos brings a much-needed offensive boost not only to the lineup, but also the Lightning's struggling power play, which has dropped from 23.1 percent efficiency during the regular season to 19.4 in the postseason.

Before playing in Game 3, the last time he hit the ice was Feb. 25, when he scored an assist and extended his point streak to 15 games (12 goals, 10 assists). On March 2, Stamkos had surgery to repair a core muscle injury and was expected to miss six to eight weeks. While he hadn't played in the round robin or the first three rounds of the playoffs, he has been in the bubble and was on the ice when the team was handed the Prince of Wales Trophy as the 2020 Eastern Conference champions.

So, will he play another game? Sporting News is keeping track of the captain's participation in the final.

Stanley Cup Final Game 1

  • Did he participate in the morning skate? Yes.
  • Did he participate in warmups? No.
  • Did he play in the game? No.

MORE: Stars netminder masterful in Game 1 win

Stanley Cup Final Game 2

  • Did he participate in the morning skate? Yes.
  • What did Jon Cooper say in pregame availability when asked about Stamkos? "So if you've been following anything, my press conference, I really don't reveal anything about our lineups. So, you'll have to tune in tonight to find out and it's probably frustrating for a lot of people, especially if they have social media, but we'll have our lineup tonight and 20 guys are gonna be in the lineup (that) will give us the best chance to win."
  • Did he participate in warmups? No.
  • Did he play in the game? No.

Stanley Cup Final Game 3

  • Did he participate in the morning skate? Undetermined but probably no. Based on the video the NHL provides, he was not in any of the shots.
  • What did Jon Cooper say in pregame availability when asked about Stamkos? "He's inching closer. ... He's getting closer."
  • Did he participate in warmups? Yes.
  • Did he play in the game? Yes, and he scored a goal.

MORE: Stamkos returns, scores goal in Stanley Cup Final Game 3

Stanley Cup Final Game 4

  • Will he play? No. Cooper said during availability on Thursday that he wouldn't know anything, or have any update until Friday morning. On Friday morning when asked if he will play in Game 4, Cooper said: "Not tonight, he's not going to play. But we haven't ruled him out for the series."

MORE: Lightning win in overtime on controversial penalty call

Stanley Cup Final Game 5

  • Will he play? No. At Saturday's availability, Cooper said: "We're not going to see him tonight." Tampa Bay will try to win the Stanley Cup now without its captain, who will certainly be on the ice at the end of the night if they do clinch the 2020 championship.

MORE: Stars win Game 5 in double-OT

Stanley Cup Final Game 6

  • Will he play? No. After Dallas' double-overtime win in Game 5 to extend the series, Cooper told media on Sunday morning that, "He's done for the series. Hopefully the next time we see him on the ice is during a trophy presentation."

    Later on, he added, "The conversation went this morning because there's only one or two games left in the series and he did everything he could to get back and he did get back and unfortunately he couldn't go any further. ... To be honest, I didn't think he was playing at all in these playoffs — I don't think any of us did. So, he gave us 2:47 of brilliant hockey, a phenomenal story ... he's for sure missed on the ice but the rest of the series is done for him."

Jackie Spiegel