- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Bolts back together as Eastern Conference Final preparations begin
- Updated: May 11, 2016
For the first time since late March, the Tampa Bay Lightning had their full complement of players available to train as the team prepares for an Eastern Conference Final showdown against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Lightning captain Steven Stamkos (surgery to treat a type of Vascular Thoracic Outlet Syndrome), defenseman Anton Stralman (non-displaced fracture of left fibula) and forward J.T. Brown (upper-body injury) all practiced with their teammates at the Brandon Ice Sports Forum on Wednesday before the team departed for Pittsburgh later in the afternoon. Stralman and Brown were in regular jerseys and took part in line rushes and drills. Stamkos wore a red no-contact jersey.
After practice, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said it was pointless to speculate when any of the three might be ready for game action.
“Don’t read anything into the jerseys,” Cooper said. “Don’t read anything until you see them in a game. It’s just pointless to talk whether they’re going to play or not.”
Stralman has been sidelined since March 25 since getting his leg caught awkwardly underneath his body as he was pushed backwards by the Islanders’ Anders Lee in a regular-season game. Stralman has yet to make an appearance in the postseason. Cooper had hoped Stralman would be back by now and said before Game 5 of the Second Round series versus the Islanders he was “shocked” he wasn’t yet available.
Stralman said skating a full practice today was a good step in the right direction.
“I thought it was a good day today, to get out there back with the team practicing,” he said. “We’ll see the reaction, and then we can go from there.”
Brown hasn’t played since early in Game 2 of the Detroit series after blocking a slap shot. Brown also skated fully for the first time since his injury.
“It’s too early to tell,” Brown said when asked if he felt ready for Game 1. “This was my first practice out there with the guys. I think it might take a little more before I can even come close to making a decision on …
continue reading in source lightning.nhl.com
