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After scoreless series versus Detroit, Stamkos looking forward to ‘fresh start’ versus Habs

Tampa Bay Lightning v Detroit Red Wings - Game Six

Tampa Bay Lightning v Detroit Red Wings - Game Six

NHLI via Getty Images

Steven Stamkos is happy to be in the second round of the playoffs.

And he’s probably just as happy to be done trying to shake Pavel Datsyuk.

Stamkos was held without a goal in seven games versus the Red Wings, though he did manage to rack up 22 shots.

“The first round was tough when you’re not producing, but that was an eye-opener for me that I can go out there and focus on other areas of the game, whether it was faceoffs or playing well defensively,” he said, per the Canadian Press. “The beauty of it is it’s kind of a fresh start and I’m excited for that chance.”

The Lightning open their series with the Canadiens tonight in Montreal. Stamkos scored five goals in five games versus the Habs, all of them Tampa Bay wins, during the regular season.

Then again, he had four goals in four games versus the Wings, three of them Tampa Bay wins, during the regular season.

“This is a brand new ballgame,” he said. “I think this group has learned the lesson of not paying any attention to what happened in previous games.”

Related: Coach Cooper isn’t worried about Stamkos’ goal drought