Steven Stamkos ruled out as Lightning take on Bruins in Atlantic Division showdown
As the Tampa Bay Lightning attempt to reclaim the Atlantic Division lead tonight against Boston, head coach Jon Cooper has ruled captain Steven Stamkos out with a lower body injury.
The home stretch for the Tampa Bay Lightning has been nothing short of brutal as they try to secure the top spot in the Atlantic, but what was supposed to be an easy clinch of the division has turned into a race to the finish against the Bruins.
The Bolts will have to chase them back down tonight without their all-star captain, Steven Stamkos.
According to Tampa’s head coach, Jon Cooper, Stamkos has been officially ruled out of tonight’s pivotal matchup due to a lower body injury suffered in Sunday night’s 4-1 loss against the Nashville Predators. There is still no clarification on whether Stamkos’s injury will carry over into the remaining two games after tonight or into the postseason.
After missing the majority of last year with a knee injury, 28-year-old Stamkos has bounced back this year with 27 goals and 56 assists for 86 points in 78 games, his fourth best season overall. Losing Stamkos is not an option that Tampa Bay can afford to toy with, and resting him tonight is the right choice.
However, the injury may not be as serious as it seems at first glance, despite Stamkos’ history of injuries. Head coach Jon Cooper assured Lightning fans that Stamkos will be just fine and the injury is not serious. “He’s been getting nicked up here the last little while, so if there is a time where we have to sit back and say, ‘OK, this is the time he can rest,’ This is the time,” Cooper said, per Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times. “We need him feeling his best in a week and a half from now and not necessarily right now, so however we can help that, we will.”
Tonight’s matchup with Boston could end up being a total bloodbath, especially if Tampa comes out ready to play and smacks the Bruins in the mouth first. There is too much on the line for the Bolts to sit back and let yet another crucial game slip away.
The Bruins currently sit atop the Atlantic Division with 110 points, and the Lightning trail by two points with 108. Tonight is a must-win for the Lightning if they want to claim the Atlantic. A win for Tampa Bay ties the teams at 110 points each, but Boston will still have an edge with one game in hand. A win for the Bruins all but locks up the division with a four point lead with a game in hand, capping off what has been amazing run down the home stretch.
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Tampa Bay’s outstanding depth will need to step up in full force for the Lightning to fight their way back into a chance at winning the Atlantic. Beyond the two points at stake, Tampa needs to avoid a season series sweep to the Bruins heading into a possible playoff matchup should both teams advance past the first round.