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.
Haula, 22, has two goals and two assists in 15 games so far in his rookie season for Minnesota. He was sent back to Iowa to continue playing during the break, falling shy of the NHL-mandated guideline of playing in 16 of the 20 games before the break which would have left him ineligible to return to Iowa.
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.
O'Reilly missed the last two games with a freak shoulder injury that he suffered on Monday while celebrating a Paul Stastny goal. He is expected to hop back onto his usual line with Paul Stastny and Gabriel Landeskog.
O'Reilly will miss his second straight game with a shoulder injury that he suffered on Monday vs. Calgary. Monitor his status during Saturday to see if he will suit up against the Wild.
Forsberg was named MVP, Best Forward and a media all-star at the 2014 World Junior Championships, helping the host nation to a silver medal, his third time placing at the tournament. He has posted five points (1G / 4A) in 12 games with Nashville, and eight points (3G / 5A) in seven games with Milwaukee (AHL).
Forsberg had been loaned to team Sweden for the World Junior Championships, where he scored four goals and added eight helpers (12 points) in seven games, earning MVP honours. With Patric Hornqvist potentially out tonight, Forsberg would likely slide right back into the Predators lineup. He has one goal and four assists with a minus-8 rating in 12 games.
O'Reilly was injured while celebrating a Paul Stastny goal on Tuesday night. He is listed as day-to-day. Monitor his status prior to Friday's meeting with the Islanders.
O’Reilly hurt his left shoulder while celebrating the Avs’ third goal, by Paul Stastny. Essentially, he got it jammed while extending his left arm into the group hug. The Avs say he is day-to-day, so we’ll see tomorrow if he plays or not against Ottawa
Haula has tallied 17 points (9G / 8A) in 24 games with Iowa this season. The 22-year-old is tied for first on the team in goals, scoring and power-play goals with four. Haula recorded an assist in his NHL debut on November 29 vs. Colorado and owns two assists and a plus-3 rating in 10 games with Minnesota this season.
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.
Haula has collected two assists and a plus-3 rating in 10 games with Minnesota this season. The 5-foot-11, 192-pound has tallied 14 points (7G / 7A) in 20 games with Iowa this season. The 22-year-old ranks tied for first on the team with four power-play goals, and third in goals and scoring.
Head coach Barry Trotz the team would allow him to play in the tournament, provided he’s cleared to return to action. “Only injury can stop him now,” Peter Forsberg, the team’s Vice President, told the Swedish media. The Ostervala, Sweden native has participated in the last two World Junior tournaments and served as his team’s captain last year.
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.
Haula has recorded 14 points (7-7=14) in 20 games with Iowa this season. The 22-year-old ranks tied for first on the team in scoring and power-play goals with four, is tied for second in goals and tied for third in assists. He recorded an assist in his NHL debut on November 29 vs. Colorado and has two assists in six games with Minnesota this season.
