Lightning captain Steven Stamkos had vascular surgery this afternoon at Tampa General Hospital. The two-hour procedure was a success, according to the surgeon, Dr. Karl Illig.
“Everything went as expected for Steven today,” Dr. Illig said in a team release. “We plan to re-evaluate him in about two weeks and we should know more about his prognosis at that time.”
The timeline for Stamkos is 1-3 months. That makes a return to the playoffs a possibility, assuming the Lightning can make a run.
But the defending Eastern Conference champs will be in tough to do that without their captain, not to mention defenseman Anton Stralman, who’s out indefinitely with a fractured leg.
The Lightning will clinch a playoff berth tonight if they get at least one point against the Islanders.
