After Tampa Bay's 3-2 overtime victory Thursday versus Florida, the team announced captain Steven Stamkos was out with a lower-body injury, was placed on long term injury reserve and would miss at least 10 games/24 days retroactive to his last game, which came April 8 in Columbus when he suffered a non-contact injury in the third period.
The blow is significant for the Lightning. Stamkos led the team for goals at the time of the injury and still ranks tied for first with Brayden Point and tied for 15th in the NHL. He's one of just four players in the League with 10 or more power-play goals.
With Nikita Kucherov out - more on him later - the Lightning are without arguably their top two scorers down the stretch run of the regular season with 13 games remaining and a battle for the top spot in the Central Division between themselves, Florida and Carolina still ongoing.
Some clarity on the status of Stamkos and Kucherov
Even though Stamkos is on long term injury reserve, he is expected to return this season; Kucherov practiced with the team Friday but hasn't been cleared for contact
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