TAMPA — As difficult as it is for Steven Stamkos to watch from the sideline as the Tampa Bay Lightning attempt to advance to the Stanley Cup final for the second year in a row, he has maintained a sense of humour.
“You guys ever change in front of this many people?” the Lightning captain said to a crush of reporters waiting at his stall in the Tampa dressing room on Thursday.
Those were the first words out of Stamkos’ mouth and there wasn’t much laughter afterward.
Stamkos participated in practice at Amalie Arena after staying off the ice the previous two days, but quickly confirmed there is no change in his status as he waits to return to the lineup after having surgery for a blood clot near his right collarbone on April 4.