The Lightning and the NHL has lost a scintillating superstar for a while. Tampa Bay’s playoff hopes took a huge hit as superstar Steven Stamkos was taken off the ice on a stretcher after colliding with the goal post at TD Gardens against the Boston Bruins. Lightning faithful held their collective breath awaiting word from Massachusetts General Hospital Hospital as the Bolts went down 3-0 to the Bruins. The news was not good as Stamkos suffered a broken right tibia. GM Steve Yzerman confirmed that Stamkos will have surgery tomorrow and that he is out indefinitely. (Photo/Susan Ferlita)
“At this point Steven will be out indefinitely,” Yzerman said. “The medical staff in Boston, in consultation with our team physicians, has made the decision to surgically repair the injury. The procedure is expected to take place tomorrow morning. The biggest concern for me, and the rest of the Lightning, is that decisions are made in Steven’s best long-term interest, and we feel this is the appropriate course of action.”
The goal post did not break away immediately upon contact as Stamkos barreled into it at full speed with his right shin. Stamkos’ shin bent the wrong way and it was obvious that he had broken it. Goalie Anders Lindback immediately waved the trainers out. The Bolts phenom courageously tried to skate off the ice, but the injury was too severe. Teammate Alex Killorn said Stamkos didn’t say much except that, “he wanted to get off the ice.” He was obviously in pain,” Killorn said. “He didn’t say much but we knew he was hurting.”
“I was just trying to drive the net. He was too fast for me,” Bruins Dougie Hamilton told reporters. “We both just went to the net. I don’t know what happened. he fell and hit the post pretty hard. Like I said, it’s unfortunate and kind of hard to see that happen.”
Steven Stamkos was leading the NHL in goals with 14 and points with 23. What does Stamkos mean to the Eastern Conference leading Lightning? He is responsible for 44% of the team’s goals this season. The sniper is responsible for three of 12 power play goals and one of two shorthanded goals. Martin St. Louis will be affected the most by his absence. Stamkos has assisted on all seven of St. Louis goals this season.
In short, the loss of the best player in the world is immeasurable.
“It’s tough to lose a guy like that,” Coach Jon Cooper said to the Tampa Bay Times. “We’ll see what we’re made of. You talk about a test, this is a test.”
“It’s a big loss, but you know, we’ve been winning as a team and we’re going to have to find a way to continue doing that,’’ Bolts Captain Martin St. Louis told the Tampa Tribune. “We’re going to have to raise our game collectively. You don’t replace Stammer, but the guys are going to have to step up.’’
The Bolts will soon set out on a very tough western toad trip (November 16-22) with games against Anaheim, San Jose, Los Angeles and Phoenix, all in the NHL’s top 13 teams. Stamkos’ loss will be felt the most on this trip. Tampa Bay is 6-0 versus the dominant Western Conference, but without their leading goal and point scorer, the team may suffer in the short term. The team plays the league’s number one team, Anaheim, twice in the next 11 days.
The Bolts don’t have time to dwell on the tough situation as they assuredly will adopt “The next man up” philosophy en route to Montreal for tomorrow nights game.
The NHL has lost one of its faces and a class act. The 23 year old has lost weeks and maybe months of his prime time career and most likely, a chance to represent his country at the Olympics.
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