The Tampa Bay Lightning need one more win against the Dallas Stars to earn the franchise’s second Stanley Cup championship.
But they’ll be without captain Steven Stamkos in Game 6 and, if necessary, Game 7.
Coach Jon Cooper on Sunday told reporters they were shutting the center down for the remainder of the year after injuries plagued the second half of his season.
“Just to be blunt, he’s done for the series,” Cooper said of Stamkos, via NHL.com. “Hopefully the next time we see him on the ice is during a trophy presentation.”
The Lightning got through the entirety of the playoffs without Stamkos, save for a brief appearance in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final where he scored.
“He did everything he could to get back. And he did get back, and unfortunately he couldn’t go any further,” Cooper said. I’m sure this will all be addressed after the series is over. He gamed it out.
“To be honest, I didn’t think he was playing at all in these playoffs. I don’t think any of us did. So, he gave us 2:47 of brilliant hockey that’s a phenomenal story, scored a huge goal for us in a win and hopefully we can keep that momentum.”
The Lightning will try to clinch the Cup in Game 6 on Monday in the Edmonton hub.
