Martin Fennelly Columns
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TAMPA — In 2011, a 21-year-old Steven Stamkos began his first turn at the Stanley Cup playoffs flat on his back — leveled by a crunching check by Pittsburgh’s Brooks Orpik in Stamkos’ very first playoff shift. Along the way, there was a pronounced scoring drought. Stamkos’ playoffs ended a game from the Stanley Cup finals, with him wearing a face mask after getting his nose broken and dripping blood after taking a shot flush in the face in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals against Boston. The 1-0 loss hurt more.