Stamkos day to day for Lightning with lower-body injury

Steven Stamkos is day to day with a lower-body injury for the Tampa Bay Lightning, and coach Jon Cooper said he's questionable for their game at the Boston Bruins on Tuesday (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TVAS, SN1, NESN, NHL.TV).
The 28-year-old center left a 4-1 loss to the Nashville Predators on Sunday at 3:25 of the second period after getting tangled up with Predators forward Austin Watson. The Lightning, who have three games left in the regular season, could rest Stamkos until the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin April 11.

"Do I consider that? Yes, I guess we could consider that," Cooper said. "The player knows his body. The doctors know what to do. I'm not going to speculate on anything. [Stamkos] is planning on playing in the playoffs and I'm pretty sure he is planning on playing some point in one of these last three games. But it's medical personnel. They'll make the decision and [Stamkos], based on how he feels, will make the decision.
"He's been getting nicked up here the last little while. So, if there's a time to sit back and say, 'OK, this is the time to rest,' we need him feeling his best in a week and a half from now and not necessarily right now."

Stamkos missed a 4-1 loss to the Arizona Coyotes on March 26 with a lower-body injury, the first game he missed this season. He returned for the next three games, a 4-2 loss to the Bruins on Thursday, a 7-3 win against the New York Rangers on Friday and the loss to the Predators. He was not on the ice at practice Monday.
The Lightning (52-23-4) have clinched a playoff berth. They trail the Bruins by two points for first place in the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference. Boston has played one fewer game.
"It's probably going to have a big determination of who comes first," Cooper said of the game Tuesday. "Let's be honest, we win the game and we're right back at it. They win the game and they've probably got it. In the big scope of things, it's game 80 but it's a big game 80."
Stamkos missed the Lightning's final 65 games last season because of a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee that required surgery. He has rebounded with 86 points (27 goals, 59 assists) this season, the most he's had since 2011-12, when he had 97, including 60 goals.
"One of the best players on the team," Lightning forward Alex Killorn said. "He'll be back, he's a competitive guy. We just want to make sure he's healthy. We need him in the lineup. Power play, first-line center. He's huge for us. We need him."