Tampa Bay Lightning’s Steven Stamkos day-to-day with lower-body injury

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos will not play tonight versus the New Jersey Devils. He is out with a lower-body injury and is considered day-to-day. 

The injury occurred in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks when Stamkos and Blackhawks’ forward Joey Anderson got tangled up along the boards. Stamkos was able to get up, but the second he put weight on his left leg he was in serious discomfort. He went down the tunnel and straight to the locker room where he was eventually ruled out for the remainder of the game. 

This season, Stamkos has registered 27 goals and 66 points in 65 games. Earlier this season, Stamkos became the third active player in the NHL to hit the 500-goal milestone. He trails Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, and Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin. With that achievement, Stamkos also became the 46th player in NHL history to reach 500 goals. Last season he surpassed 100 points for the first time in his career, tallying 42 goals and 64 assists for 106 points in 81 games. 

Stamkos was drafted first overall by the Lightning in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft after putting up 105 points (58G, 47A) in 61 games with the Sarnia Sting in the Ontario Hockey League. He made his NHL debut during the 2008-09 season and tallied 23 goals and 46 points in 79 games. Stamkos won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the NHL’s top goal scorer in 2009-10 with 51 goals and then followed that up with another Richard Trophy in 2011-12 tallying an astonishing 60 goals. The two-time Stanley Cup champion and seven-time NHL All-Star is now up to 508  goals and 1038 regular season points. Stamkos also reached the 1000-point milestone this season in a Dec. 1st, 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.