Lightning’s Stamkos skates; not close to return

6:53 PM ET

TAMPA, Fla. — Steven Stamkos is serving as an inspiration for the Tampa Bay Lightning as the defending Eastern Conference champions attempt to make a deep playoff run without him.

The team’s captain and leading scorer was back on the ice with teammates Tuesday, participating in shooting and skating drills for the first time since undergoing surgery for a blood clot discovered near his right collarbone this month.

Stamkos and coach Jon Cooper, however, stressed the two-time Maurice Richard Trophy winner is not anywhere close to being ready to face the New York Islanders in a second-round series that begins Wednesday night.

“Nothing’s changed from the original timeline,” said Stamkos, who wore a red noncontact sweater during an hourlong practice at Amalie Arena.

“Naturally we all want him back, but it’s not taking away from the task at hand,” Cooper said. “We just went through a series without him, and we’re fully expecting to go through another series without him.”

Steven Stamkos is not expected back for the Lightning in their second-round series against the Islanders. Scott Audette/NHLI/Getty Images

When Stamkos underwent surgery April 4 to treat a type of vascular thoracic outlet syndrome, the Lightning said the 26-year-old would be sidelined one to three months.

He has maintained a relatively low profile since being released from the hospital, rehabbing and supporting teammates, and was careful to not draw attention to himself during Tampa Bay’s first-round series win over the Detroit Red Wings. The Islanders advanced in six games against the Florida Panthers.

“It’s kind of a fine line. … You definitely don’t want to be a distraction in the playoffs,” Stamkos said …

continue reading in source espn.go.com