Late this evening, Tampa Bay Lightning General Manager Steve Yzerman announced that center Steven Stamkos will undergo surgery tomorrow to repair a broken tibia. The injury occurred during the Lightning’s 3-0 loss to the Boston Bruins on Monday afternoon.
From the team’s press release:
Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos was diagnosed with a broken tibia in his right leg today in Boston, vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced. “At this point Steven will be out indefinitely,… Yzerman said. “The medical staff in Boston, in consultation with our team physicians, has made the decision to surgically repair the injury. The procedure is expected to take place tomorrow morning. The biggest concern for me, and the rest of the Lightning, is that decisions are made in Steven’s best long-term interest, and we feel this is the appropriate course of action.… Stamkos was injured with 7:11 remaining in the second period of a scoreless game as the Lightning took on the Boston Bruins. Tampa Bay went on to lose the contest, 3-0.
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According to Erik Erlendsson, the timeline for an injury like Stamkos' is four to six months.
The Bolts also lost defensemen Sami Salo and Keith Aulie in Monday’s game. Yzerman and head coach Jon Cooper will discuss potential roster moves as the team makes its way from Boston to Montreal.
On behalf of everyone at Hockey Buzz, I’d like to wish Stamkos well. Freak accidents like this happen in hockey. All we can do now is hope that number-91 has a full and speedy recovery.