Stamkos left Tuesday's game vs. the Maple Leafs when an old injury popped back up. Stamkos is not on the ice for the morning skate, so don't expect him to play tonight vs. the Blackhawks. Ondrej Palat moved up to the top line after Stamkos left Tuesday's game and Mitchell Stephens was recalled from the AHL on Wednesday.
Head coach Jon Cooper said that the injury that Stamkos has been dealing with came up again. Stamkos has only missed a total of six games this season but has been dealing with a lower-body injury on-and-off. With Tampa Bay sitting comfortably in second in the Atlantic Division, don't be surprised if Stamkos misses some time to ensure he's 100 percent for the playoffs.
Skjei was acquired from the Rangers for a first-round pick on Monday and will replace Brett Pesce (shoulder) on Tuesday. Skjei, who will skate with Jaccob Slavin on the top-pair, has 23 points (8G / 15A) while averaging 1.5 blocks and 1.7 hits in 60 games with New York this season.
Both Angello and Sam Lafferty were returned to the AHL on Monday after the Penguins added a trio of forwards at the deadline. Angello returns leading Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with 16 goals and nine assists in 45 games.
Following the acquisition of J.G. Pageau from the Senators, the Islanders announced that Bellows is going back to the AHL and Andrew Ladd is coming back up for good. Bellows has been solid in his brief time with the Isles, scoring two goals with one assist while playing 10:39 ATOI in eight games. He leads Bridgeport with 16 goals and is second with 24 points in 45 games.
Originally drafted by New York 28th overall in 2012, Skjei had become an integral part of the Rangers blue-line. The 25-year-old played at least 78 games in each of the last three seasons, averaging 30 points per 82 games. Skjei has eight goals and 15 assists in 60 games this season. He carries a $5.25M cap-hit through the 2023-24 season.
Bellows had two goals and one assist in seven games with the Islanders earlier in the season. The former first-round pick has picked up 24 points (16G / 8A) in 45 AHL games.
Lauzon was suspended for two games but goes back to the AHL with Brandon Carlo back from a personal matter. The 22-year-old has 13 points (1G / 12A) in 45 AHL games this season.
Stamkos did not come out for the Lightning's morning skate and will not play tonight in Columbus. Stamkos is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, so Mathieu Joseph was recalled from Syracuse (AHL) and will draw into the lineup. Ondrej Palat will move to the top-line with Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov.
