On the Tampa Bay Lightning …
Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times: It’s looking like Steven Stankos won’t be able to return to the Lightning’s lineup before the end of the regular season.
“It’s probably not looking that good,” Stamkos said. “It’s frustrating from an individual perspective where I want to be out there trying to help my team — especially at this (time of) year — but it just doesn’t feel right.”
The Lightning need to win their remaining games and the Toronto Maple Leafs need to lose their remaining games for the Lightning to get into the playoffs.
“It’s gotten better, we kind of hit a pleateau, it was frustrating,” Stamkos said. “There was no setback. Everything still progressed. But it wasn’t a minor procedure. This is pretty major, and there are a lot of working parts when it comes to the knee with having the tissue heal, scar tissue. Things that are kind of behind the scenes that have been tough. We’ve been working hard, just hasn’t been there yet.”
On the Pittsburgh Penguins …
Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Forward Evgeni Malkin would like to get into one regular season game before the playoffs start, but it might not happen.
“I think very close,” Malkin said. “Day-by-day. It’s my first practice with the team. I’m skating more every day. I need skating to be ready for playoffs. After this game, we have two left. I hope I play. Getting close.”
The Penguins don’t want to rush him back and then have him re-aggravate the issue.
“We would like him to be 100 percent, so that he’s ready to play,” Sullivan said. “We’ve taken a cautious approach with him. I think he’s played a fair amount of games this year. We’re not overly concerned that he’s got to knock the rust off. We feel pretty strongly that he can step right in and be an impact player for us.”