Stamkos has missed 45 games with fractured right tibia but his long awaited return will come on Thursday against the Sabres. This has to feel like the best trade deadline acquisition for the Lightning. Stamkos was excellent before getting hurt. He scored 14 goals and nine assists (23 points) in 17 games. He is a tremendous athlete and will probably be able to pick-up right where he left off.

Stamkos will meet with doctors on Wednesday as he awaits word on whether or not he can play on Thursday.

Stamkos underwent another set of X-rays this afternoon. The bone is reportedly healing very well but the Lightning are playing it smart. Stamkos is expected to return when the Lightning get back to Tampa Bay on March 6 vs. the Sabres.

After the brief rest, Stamkos returned to the ice last week along with the rest of his non-Olympian teammates looking as good as ever 14 weeks after suffering a broken right tibia. Though he pushed hard to be ready to return before the break and represent Canada at the Olympics, a CT scan performed on Feb. 5 revealed the bone was not quite healed enough to clear his return. "It did feel good (on Feb. 5), but it feels even better now," Stamkos said. "Maybe I wasn't as far along as I thought, knowing how much better it has felt now that I have kept working on it and taking a couple of days off. It's just going to continually get better, and that's positive knowing it's doing that.''

Stamkos fractured his right tibia on November 11 in a game against the Boston Bruins and he subsequently had surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital to place a titanium rod in the tibia. He has missed 39 regular season games to this point. "Today is obviously very disappointing for me," Stamkos said. "I honestly believe that we did everything possible in order to have my injured leg ready in time for the Olympics, but I realize you can't force healing.

It all depends how Stamkos responds to an increased workload. Stamkos is expected to begin 'light' contact on Saturday. So far things are trending in the right direction for Stammer to be ready for Sochi 2014.

Stamkos was active in multiple drills with the Lightning as he continues to progress towards a pre-Olympic return. Stamkos' recovery has been nothing short of spectacular, but there is still no timetable for his return.

Stamkos continues to skate as he works his way back from a broken tibia that he suffered on November 11. His recovery to this point has been extremely promising and impressive as he works his way back for early February and the Sochi Winter Olympics. He had 14 goals and 25 points in 17 games prior to breaking his leg.

Pretty incredible that Stamkos is back on the ice one month and three days after breaking his leg. He was in a track suit this morning, but it is still fantastic news. He will continue to skate as he works his way back and will continue to be monitored closely. He is way ahead of schedule on his recovery which is great news for fantasy owners, the Lightning and Team Canada.

If his leg responds well an aggressive re-hab will lead to a quick recovery. However, still no timetable set for his return.

There is no an established timetable for Stamkos to recover from his surgery, which included the insertion of a titanium rod the length of the tibia, though he is expected to begin his rehabilitation right away. The normal time frame is 4-6 months, but there is still some optimism that Stammer could be ready to go for the Olympics, so we will see how his recovery goes.

There is no timetable for Stamkos' return.

Stamkos is out indefinitely after scoring 14 goals and adding 9 assists (t-1st in NHL with 23 points) in 16 games. Valtteri Filppula, Tyler Johnson and Nate Thompson should see expanded roles with Stamkos out.

Stamkos was in obvious pain and has been taken to the hospital for X-rays. It looked gruesome and could be a severe injury for the Lightning sniper. We will get a full update when it is released.

It is too early, Stamkos said, to tell how the injury will affect his participation at the World Championship. Stamkos had committed to play for Canada earlier in the week.

Stamkos likely won't own up to the injury and miss time but if you're wondering why he only has 2 goals in April, this may be the reason.

Stamkos will not require surgery, just rest. Imagine how many goals he could have scored at full strength.

Stamkos is most likely taking a maintenance day after playing continually increased minutes. Don't expect him to miss any playing time.

Stamkos still played over 20 minutes in the game and likely will grit through the bruise. If there is any further word on the injury, we will keep you updated.

Stamkos will be expected to step up his already torrid scoring pace while flanked by St. Louis and Lecavalier. Start him with confidence tonight.