Steven Stamkos back on ice in red sweater

Steven Stamkos is back.

The Lightning captain returned to the ice Tuesday - albeit in a red non-contact sweater - for practice, his first with the team since undergoing vascular surgery to repair a blood clot in his collarbone April 4.

"It was fantastic," he said.

Stamkos was expected to miss 1-3 months, and he said that timeline hasn't changed, with the "million dollar question" on when he can get off blood thinners. Coach Jon Cooper said he fully expects to go another entire series without his leading scorer.

The good news for Stamkos is he feels great, hish rehab and recovery going well. But it's also the frustrating part of not being able to play. He was a limited participant in practice,…