Lightning anticipate return of Stamkos

Though Steven Stamkos missed the last three regular-season games with a nagging lower-body injury, he practiced Wednesday and is expected to be in the lineup when the Lightning open the playoffs Thursday night against the Devils.

“Best I’ve felt in a couple weeks, really,” Stamkos said. “Feeling good.”

The Lightning got 100 points from Nikita Kucherov but count on Stamkos to be their top-line center and a big-time scorer on the power play. Stamkos had 27 goals and 59 assists in 78 games this season.

The Devils hope to get forward Marcus Johansson back after he missed the last 35 games with a concussion. He has been cleared for contact but not yet to play.

However, Devils coach John Hynes refused to say who is starting in goal, Keith Kinkaid or Cory Schneider.

“I think we have two excellent goaltenders,” Hynes said.

Getting solid goaltending will be critical for the Devils, for whom half the roster has never competed in a postseason game.

The Predators have been waiting for this since June 11: After failing to force a Game 7 for the Stanley Cup last season, they’re set to open the playoffs.

This time the Predators are the Presidents’ Trophy winners heading into Thursday’s opener against the Avalanche.

Winning the Presidents’ Trophy is no guarantee of success. Since 2004-05, more teams with the most regular-season points (four) have been eliminated in the first round than have reached the final (three).

And the Predators’ own first-round sweep of the Blackhawks, last year’s top seed in the West, has given the Avalanche confidence after their own amazing turnaround for their first playoff berth since 2014, even if they have lost 10 straight to the Predators.

“We got in,” said forward Nathan MacKinnon. “Anything can happen now.”