The Tampa Bay Lightning will be playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in a few week; the Lightning is one of four teams to have already clinched a postseason berth. Tampa still has plenty on the line right now, two points ahead of the Boston Bruins for first in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference, with Boston holding two games in hand.
When the Lightning attempt to maintain their footing in the division with a big matchup against the Bruins in Boston, they expect they'll have their captain back.
Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said it's likely Steven Stamkos will be back in the lineup after missing Tampa Bay's 4-1 loss against the Arizona Coyotes with a lower-body injury. Stamkos was considered 'day-to-day' when it was announced he would be out Monday.
Cooper didn't specify if he thought Stamkos would miss any additional games beyond Monday, the major question mark sitting on Thursday when the Lightning travel to TD Garden to take on the Bruins in one of two remaining matchups against Boston this season that will go a long way in determining who finishes first in the conference.
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Defenseman Victor Hedman, who played Monday but did not practice Tuesday (Stamkos was again kept the ice) is also expected in the lineup against the Bruins.
Stamkos and Hedman have both been vital to the Lightning's success this season, each All-Stars, though Hedman did not participate in the game, held in Tampa Bay, due to an injury. Stamkos has established a new career-high with 56 assists, and is on pace for his fourth career 90-point season, and his first since 2012. Hedman leads all Tampa Bay skaters in time on-ice per game at 25:51, also a career-high for the 27-year-old.