Don Brennan: Lightning won't miss playoffs, but winning Cup will be tough without Stamkos
Stamkos missed all but one playoff game last season and the Lightning won the Cup anyway. Their offensive catalyst was Nikita Kucherov, who had hip surgery in December and is “on target” to return in the playoffs, but is currently “a long way” from participating in contact drills. Stamkos has been very good in 2021.