TAMPA, Fla. -- The question was a simple one: Will you be ready for Game 2?
Stamkos, 26, had surgery on April 4 to remove a blood clot near his collarbone, known as vascular thoracic outlet syndrome. The original prognosis was that Stamkos would miss one to three months, but he's been skating for "a little bit" now and he's motivated to return to the lineup, especially after his team lost Game 1 of the Eastern Conference second-round series to the New York Islanders 5-3 on Wednesday night at Amalie Arena.
Stamkos has skated with the team the last three days while wearing a red no-contact sweater.