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You won’t see Stamkos for Lightning tonight due to upper-body injury

Jon Cooper, Steven Stamkos

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper and center Steven Stamkos (91) react to a penalty call during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

AP

Here’s some news Tampa Bay Lightning fans don’t want to hear with the playoffs rapidly approaching: Steven Stamkos won’t play tonight because of an upper-body injury.

That’s the word from the Lightning by way of a variety of reporters including Bryan Burns of the team site.

Update: Oof, the follow-up is ugly: Stamkos will miss one-to-three months because of a blood clot in his arm. Scary stuff.

As usual, there isn’t much information beyond Stamkos missing Saturday’s game against the New Jersey Devils.

There was, however, at least a slight warning that we wouldn’t “see Stamkos.”

Hmm. Hopefully that means that the Lightning are merely erring on the side of caution, here.

With Stamkos out, it’s that much tougher for the Lightning to catch the Florida Panthers for the Atlantic Division title. There is one plus, however: “The Triplets” trio of Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov are reunited in Stamkos’ absence.

Perhaps that setback will help them find that outstanding chemistry from last season once more?