Lightning’s Cooper thinks Stamkos will be OK after leaving game with leg injury

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos was unable to return for Saturday night's game against the Chicago Blackhawks after getting into the middle of a scrum on the ice and hobbling off.

Tampa Bay Lightning coach John Cooper believes Steven Stamkos will be OK after the team’s captain left during Saturday’s 3-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks with an apparent leg injury.

Stamkos got tangled up with Blackhawks forward Joey Anderson late in the first period. As Stamkos got up from the ice, he appeared to tweak something in his left leg and was slow to get to the bench.

He headed down the tunnel, straight to the locker room and did not return to the game.

“I think he’s going to be OK,” Cooper told reporters after the game. “We just kept him out for precaution. We’ll check him out tomorrow, but we’re hopeful he’ll be OK.” 

The 33-year-old Stamkos has 27 goals and 66 points in 65 games this season for the Lightning.

The Lightning now hold a 39-21-6 record and are four points back of the Toronto Maple Leafs for second place in the Atlantic Division.

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