TAMPA — GM Steve Yzerman said Thursday that though there’s still no definite return date for C Steven Stamkos, the Lightning captain is "right on course" in his recovery from knee surgery.
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Yzerman, speaking on the team’s website show, said Stamkos visited his surgeon last week and "they’re pleased with how he looks and where he’s at."
Stamkos had surgery Nov. 17 to repair a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee and was expected to miss four months, which would put his return in March.
"It’s still, for ‘Stammer,’ relatively early," Yzerman said. "Again, the procedure that he had, in the big picture, is very positive. They were able to repair the cartilage, and so far, every indication is that healing is right on course and it’s going to heal and he’s going to be fine. It’s still relatively early to have a date and say he’s going to be back. … So, he’s progressing well."
RW Ryan Callahan (hip) is still in the strengthening phase of his rehabilitation and is moving in the right direction, Yzerman said. The Lightning said in mid January that Callahan would be sidelined for another four weeks after missing time previously following offseason surgery.
"We’re trying to get him back to 100 percent strength and get him back to play," Yzerman said. "When he returns to play, I don’t have a date for you for that, either."
BOUCHER BACK: Senators coach Guy Boucher said he had only good feelings returning to Amalie Arena for a game for the first time since getting fired by the Lightning in 2013.
"It just brings a great smile to be back here," Boucher said. "It brings back all positive stuff for me."
Boucher’s Senators entered the day second in the Atlantic Division, while the Lightning is fighting for its playoff life. But Boucher said he believes Tampa Bay will be in the mix.
"This team is for sure, for me, a Stanley Cup contender," he said. "It was, and it is, and at any moment now, their surge is going to happen. You look at this lineup. This lineup is stacked, whether Stammer is there or not. You look at the names there. You look at the speed and the skill, the depth. It’s all there.
"You look right now, they play great, but they’ve lost a few games, but at any moment they could be winning six, seven, eight games in a row and we’ll go, ‘Oh, that’s the team.’ I still think they’re a Stanley Cup contender, big time."
NUTS AND BOLTS: G Andrei Vasilevskiy started for the third time in the past four games. … D Luke Witkowski returned to the lineup. D Andrej Sustr was a healthy scratch. … Associate coach Rick Bowness said that impressive rookie D Jake Dotchin could soon get penalty-kill time. … LW Michael Bournival (upper body) missed his third straight game but participated in the morning skate in a red no-contact jersey. Bournival wouldn’t disclose if he has a concussion but said he’s feeling better.
Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_JSmith.
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