Steven Stamkos feeling well, playing even better

Following Tampa Bay's 5-1 win in the season opener January 13 over the Chicago Blackhawks, Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said in his post-game comments he felt better than he has in a long time.
Stamkos scored a second period power-play goal and added two assists in his first full game since February 25, 2020, a nearly 11-month gap in action broken up only by his five-shift, 2:47 effort in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final when he scored the most iconic goal in Lightning history.

Stamkos was forced out of the final seven games of the 2019-20 regular season after having surgery to repair a core muscle injury March 2. At the time, he was expected to miss six to eight weeks. With the National Hockey League pausing the season March 12 - and eventually cancelling the remainder of the regular season upon the announcement of the expanded playoff format and bubbles in Toronto and Edmonton - the thought was the extended layoff would allow Stamkos time to recover, rehab and be 100 percent once the season resumed.

Before the restart training camp opened, Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois announced Stamkos suffered a new, lower-body injury and wouldn't be a full participant to start. He'd be eased into action and should be ready to go once playoff games in Toronto started. That's how it played out during the first week of camp, Stamkos working on his own with Lightning assistant athletic trainer Mike Poirier in between sessions, testing his skating, stickhandling and shooting. He even got into a power-play drill with the top unit toward the end of the first week.
When the Lightning left for Toronto, head coach Jon Cooper said it would be "vital" for Stamkos to play one of Tampa Bay's three round robin games before the elimination round started. But contests against Washington and Boston were played without the captain. And before the Lightning suited up for their final game of the round robin versus Philadelphia, Cooper announced Stamkos was out indefinitely, a significant blow to the Bolts' title hopes.
Stamkos continued to rehab in an effort to return while the Lightning piled up playoff series victories over Columbus, Boston and the New York Islanders. Footage the NHL sent out of team practices showed Stamkos practicing during the Eastern Conference Final, signaling a return might be imminent.
Finally, before Game 3, the Lightning announced Stamkos would make his playoff debut. In the first period, he took a lead pass from Victor Hedman, sprinted down the right wing, leaving Stars defenseman Esa Lindell in his wake before taking the shot on a 2-on-1 with Pat Maroon and scoring over the right shoulder of Stars goalie Anton Khudobin.

But he wouldn't play again, the physical toll to score that unforgettable goal leaving him unable to continue. Stamkos wasn't seen on the ice again until NHL commissioner Gary Bettman presented him with the Stanley Cup after the Lightning defeated the Stars in six games.
Upon returning to Tampa, BriseBois revealed Stamkos suffered a compensation injury during his rehab -- why he was only able to play less than three minutes total in the playoffs -- but should be ready by the start of the following season.
And when Lightning training camp for 2020-21 opened, Stamkos was on the ice smiling, skating freely and shooting his hefty one-timer from the left circle, a signal that he was, in fact, back for good.
Following Monday's practice at the TGH Ice Plex, Stamkos clarified his comment from opening night about his physical well-being.
"I wouldn't go that far to say the best I've felt all time. Those days are long gone I think," Stamkos said. "Definitely the best I've felt in 12 months for sure, and, again, the reality was that I hadn't played a game in a long time besides the 2:47 in the Final. Again, still a process, but I feel like I'm continuing to feel more comfortable and getting better and stronger as we progress with this thing. It's not just get back and get into a game. It's the progression of continuing to build on those things. There's still a lot of protocols for me in terms of strengthening certain areas. A work in progress but definitely feeling good."

With Nikita Kucherov out for the 2020-21 regular season following hip surgery, Stamkos has slid into the Russian's spot on the top line with seemingly little drop off. He opened the season on a three-game point streak and recorded multiple points in the first two games. He leads the Lightning for scoring (2-4-6 pts.) and ranks tied for 10th for points per game (1.50).
And his team is 3-1-0 through its first four games despite being unable to get into a consistent playing routine because multiple games have been postponed due to the opposition's COVID-19 concerns.
"You don't just go through surgery, recover and that's it, go on with your life," Lightning defenseman Luke Schenn said. "It's day in, day out, physical grind, take care of the body a lot more than you have to than when you're younger. He's put in the work, and he's flying out there. In practice he looks great. He's obviously gotten off to a good start this season for us. To see what he went through in the bubble and how much work he had to put in and the sacrifice just to play that two-minutes, two-and-a-half minutes or whatever it was, that's why he's the leader of this team, this franchise. He's going to be a Hall of Famer, but that's not by accident. You've got to put in the work and obviously he's got a lot of talent, but his work ethic is unmatched for sure."
Stamkos had recorded points in the last 19 games he played in going back to the 2019-20 regular season until being held off the scoresheet in Saturday's 5-2 loss at Columbus.

He's one power-play point away from 300 for his career and catching Martin St. Louis as Tampa Bay's all-time power-play scoring leader.
For so long during the postseason, observers wondered about the long-term health of Steven Stamkos, questioned whether he could ever again be the player he was pre-injury.
Now, to watch Stamkos skate this season, it's like the injury never happened.
"To see Stammer skate so freely and be out there with the guys smiling, he feels like the first four games he's kind of fit in, like he's never lost a step," Bolts forward Pat Maroon said. "It's been fun to watch, especially for him. I know he wants to see results right away, and he has. He looks good out there. It's good to see our captain look happy again and putting up numbers like he is and competing and just having fun."