Lightning’s Stamkos eyes return

TAMPA, FLA. — Steven Stamkos is back on the ice, eager to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning into the National Hockey League playoffs.

The five-time all-star missed the last three games of the regular season with a lower-body injury. He returned to practice this week and hopes to be ready Thursday for the start of a firstround series against the New Jersey Devils.

“It was obviously tough,” said Stamkos. “You want to be in those games. But the more important games are now, and I just want to make sure I feel as good as possible heading into the playoffs,” the team’s second-leading scorer added.

Stamkos, a two-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner, rebounded from missing most of last season with a knee injury to bolster the NHL’s most prolific offence with 27 goals and a career-high 59 assists for 86 points in 78 games.

The 28-year-old centre anticipates a tough matchup against the young Devils, who won all three regular-season meetings between the teams. “It doesn’t really matter where you finish (in the standings) any more. All these other teams are their own different animals come playoff time.”

Stamkos missed 65 games after undergoing surgery to repair a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee last season, when the Lightning narrowly missed the playoffs. Two years ago, a blood clot discovered near his collarbone sidelined the centre from late in the regular season until Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final, when Tampa lost to eventual Stanley Cup champ Pittsburgh.