DIRK SHADD | Times
Steven Stamkos is back.
The Lightning captain made his much-anticipted return for Thursday's Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final. He hadn't played since Mar. 31, working his way back from April 4 surgery to repair a blood clot in his right collarbone area, a condition called Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.
Stamkos' surgeon, Dr. Karl Illlig, told the Tampa Bay Times Thursday he cleared the All-Star a while ago, but the issues were him still being on blood thinners; players can't participate in games on blood thinners. Illig said Stamkos received several opinions from hematologists, and made his decision to return tonight, a decision Illig supports.