The Lightning won the Stanley Cup for the first time since 2004. Stamkos, as Tampa Bay captain, was presented the trophy by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman after taking part in the on-ice celebration.
"It still doesn't feel real," Stamkos said. "I'm so proud of every single player on this team. It was just so amazing to watch, they were so inspiring, I'm speechless. This is amazing."
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Stamkos scored a goal playing five shifts for 2:47 in the first period of Game 3, a 5-2 Lightning win that was his first game since Feb. 25 after being sidelined by a lower-body injury. He did not play Games 4 and 5 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, the hub city for the Cup Final.
"I just wanted to give myself a chance to help the boys out and I didn't know if that was going to happen," Stamkos said. "It was a really emotional past six weeks. Not only on the ice but off the ice dealing with some family stuff. I just wanted to say thank you to all my friends and family for all their love and support. Obviously so amazing to be part of this group. It's just an unbelievable feeling."
Stamkos had surgery to repair a core muscle injury March 2 and missed Tampa Bay's final seven games before the NHL season was paused March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. He was second on the Lightning with 66 points (29 goals, 37 assists) in 57 games, behind forward Nikita Kucherov (85 points; 33 goals, 52 assists).
Stamkos resumed skating and was a regular participant in optional practices and morning skates last week, including an optional practice Tuesday. He was out with an injury sustained before training camp began July 13. Stamkos participated in drills with the top power-play unit during camp but did not take part in a full practice until after the Lightning arrived in Toronto, the hub city for the Eastern Conference through the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, on July 26.
Stamkos' return in Game 3 of the Final was similar to the one he made during the 2016 playoffs. He missed eight weeks that season recovering from surgery to clear a blood clot near his right collarbone before returning against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final, playing 11:55 in a 2-1 loss.
"It was just an amazing experience to share with my teammates," Stamkos said after Game 3. "There's been a lot of hard work and different things going on behind the scenes. Just to be able to get out in a game and have an impact in a game which a month ago may have never been possible. It was amazing to be part of a huge win for us. I was just really happy to obviously contribute in a game that I didn't play too much."
