Tampa Bay Lightning’s Steven Stamkos leaves game with apparent leg injury

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos left Saturday night’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks with what appeared to be a leg injury.

The incident occurred in the first period when Stamkos and Blackhawks forward Joey Anderson got tangled up along the boards, resulting in the two falling down onto one another. Stamkos was able to get up, but the second he put weight on his left he was in serious discomfort and gingerly made his way off the ice. He went down the tunnel and straight to the locker room. He has eventually ruled out the game. He had one hit, one block, and was 100% in the faceoff circle and logged 6:48 of ice time. 

This season, Stamkos has registered 27 goals and 66 points in 65 games. Earlier this season, Stamkos became the third active player in the National Hockey League (NHL) to hit the 500-goal milestone. He trails Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, and Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin. With that achievement, Stamkos also became the 46th player in NHL history to reach 500 goals. Last season he surpassed 100 points for the first time in his career, tallying 42 goals and 64 assists for 106 points in 81 games. 

Stamkos was drafted first overall by the Lightning in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft after putting up 105 points (58G, 47A) in 61 games. He made his NHL debut during the 2008-09 season and tallied 23 goals and 46 points in 79 games. Stamkos won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the NHL’s top goal scorer in 2009-10 with 51 goals and then followed that up with another Richard Trophy in 2011-12 tallying an astonishing 60 goals. 

The two-time Stanley Cup champion and seven-time NHL All-Star is now up to 508 goals and 1038 regular season points. Stamkos also reached the 1000-point milestone this season in a Dec. 1st, 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. 

The Lightning currently sit third in the Atlantic Division with a record of 38-21-6 and a points percentage of .631%. They trail four points behind the Toronto Maples Leafs and 23 points behind the first-place Boston Bruins who have a stranglehold on the league.