Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

NHL

Steven Stamkos out as Lightning aim to win Stanley Cup in Game 6 vs. Stars

'Hopefully the next time we see him on the ice is for a trophy presentation,' Cooper said

By Paulina Dedaj Fox News
Published
close
Fox News Flash top headlines for September 28 Video

Fox News Flash top headlines for September 28

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will take on the Dallas Stars in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final on Monday night with hopes of taking home the championship for the second time in franchise history but they’ll be doing it without the help of their captain.

Head coach Jon Cooper told reporters on Sunday that Steven Stamkos would not return for the rest of the series after making a brief appearance in Game 3.

STANLEY CUP: THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE NHL’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS TROPHY

"Hopefully the next time we see him on the ice is for a trophy presentation," Cooper said. "He did everything he could to get back. And he did get back, and unfortunately, he couldn't go any further. I'm sure this will all be addressed after the series is over. He gamed it out."

Stamkos got back in the rink for the first time since Feb. 25. Despite only skating five shifts for less than three minutes, Stamkos scored less than seven minutes into the game putting the Lightning 2-0 ahead of Dallas.

"To be honest, I didn't think he was playing at all in these playoffs," Cooper said. "I don't think any of us did. So, he gave us 2:47 of brilliant hockey that's a phenomenal story, scored a huge goal for us in a win and hopefully we can keep that momentum."

STARS KEEP STANLEY CUP HOPES ALIVE WITH DOUBLE OT WIN OVER LIGHTNING

It’s not clear what benched Stamkos but he told reporters after Game 3: “I’ll be glad to share with you guys after the season.”

The Lightning are just one game away from claiming the Stanley Cup. Dallas is prepared to force a Game 7 but it won’t come easy.

“We just battle,” Corey Perry, whose goal in double overtime on Saturday kept the Stars alive, said.

CLICK HERE TO GET MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

“It doesn’t matter. We believe in that dressing room. We came here with 51 people, and all of those guys in that dressing room believe that we could go out and get this done. That’s all that really matters.”