Steven Stamkos returns and scores in Game 3 of Stanley Cup Final (Video)

The Tampa Bay Lightning star Steven Stamkos scored a goal in his first game of the entire 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

In every Tampa Bay Lightning press conference throughout the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, head coach Jon Cooper was asked one question ad nauseam: “when is Steven Stamkos going to return from injury?” That question was met with a noncommittal comment by Cooper. Well, those reporters finally received their answer on Wednesday night. Stamkos was activated for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Dallas Stars, his very first game since Feb. 25 after picking up a core muscle injury. And what a return he had.

With a 1-0 lead in the first period, Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman hit a speeding Stamkos on a cross-ice pass, who skated into Dallas’ territory and sent a wrist shot past goaltender Anton Khudobin to extend Tampa’s lead to 2-0. That was Stamkos’ first shot of the entire Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Stamkos returns in grand fashion

Stamkos underwent core-muscle surgery back on Mar. 2, which knocked him out of action for a maximum of eight weeks. That meant Stamkos would miss a significant portion of the playoffs at the time. But due to the coronavirus pandemic hitting North America, the postseason was rescheduled for July. Even after recovering, Stamkos re-aggravated the injury during practices over the summer, and never took the ice for Tampa’s entire playoff run.

Through 57 regular-season games, Stamkos scored 29 goals and recorded 39 assists prior to his injury.

This moment will live on in Tampa Bay Lightning lore, as Stamkos’ return could very well be the spark the team needed to hoist their second-ever Stanley Cup. While seven months is a long wait to see Stamkos return to the ice, it’s better late than never.