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.