Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos suffered a leg injury during the second period of a game against the Boston Bruins on Monday that looked like it could be serious. Stamkos collided with Bruins defenseman Dougie Hamilton in front of his own net and went sliding into the goal. His right leg slammed against the post and his shin appeared to bend a way it is not supposed to bend.
Actually, shins aren’t supposed to bend at all. That’s why the injury looked so brutal. Stamkos tried to get up and skate after suffering the injury but couldn’t put any weight on his leg. He had to be lifted onto a stretcher and taken off the ice. The 23-year-old was taken to a hospital for X-rays.
Stamkos had 14 goals through 16 games for the Lightning this season and has been their best offensive player for several seasons. We have seen him take a puck to the face before and return to the game, so you know the former first overall pick is not soft by any means. If he misses a significant amount of time, it could become a serious challenge for Tampa Bay to remain in first place.
GIF via Pete Blackburn
