Steven Stamkos didn't do much in the Tampa Bay Lightning's Game 7 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, but he has no regrets about playing.
"Extremely proud. It was special for me to get back on the ice with these guys. With this group," the captain said after Tampa Bay's 2-1 defeat in the Eastern Conference Final on Thursday night, according to Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo Sports.
"Such a tight group .. such a team that has gone through a lot this year. Different types of adversity. And we've come through with flying colors, but it just didn't happen tonight."
Stamkos saw his first action in exactly eight weeks after having surgery to treat a blood clot condition.
He played only 11:55 in the elimination game, registering two shots on goal, and he had trouble driving puck possession.
Stamkos posted a Corsi For percentage of only 36.36 at even strength, and wasn't much better in all situations, in which he controlled possession at a 46.15 percent clip.
"These are usually the kind(s) of moments when things go well because of the things that you endure as a group," Stamkos said postgame. "But for whatever reason, we're going to have to learn from this and come back stronger."
Stamkos was hardly the only Lightning player to struggle Thursday. Tampa Bay was outshot 39-17, and only Nikita Kucherov drove possession at 50 percent or more in all situations.
Lightning forward Brian Boyle appreciated Stamkos' presence in the lineup even in a losing effort.
"It was great for us," Boyle said. "He's our leader. We love him."
Stamkos' future is uncertain - both from a health standpoint and in terms of his contract - and stands to be the biggest NHL storyline this summer.
(Analytics courtesy: HockeyStats.ca)
