Stamkos 'inching his way closer' to Cup Final return for Lightning

Welcome to NHL.com, the official site of the National Hockey LeagueBienvenue à LNH.com , le site officiel de la Ligue nationale de hockeyДобро пожаловать на NHL.com, официальный сайт Национальной хоккейной лигиTervetuloa NHL:n viralliselle nettisivustolle NHL.comiinVälkommen till NHL.com, NHL:s officiella web-sidaVítejte na NHL.com, oficiálních stránkách National Hockey LeagueVitajte na NHL.com, oficiálnych stránkach National Hockey LeagueWillkommen auf NHL.com, der offiziellen Seite der National Hockey LeagueBienvenido a NHL.com, el sitio oficial de la National Hockey LeagueSteven Stamkos is "inching his way closer" to returning but probably won't play for the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC SN, TVAS), coach Jon Cooper said.The Lightning trail the best-of-7 series after losing Game 1 to the Dallas Stars 4-1 at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Saturday."You don't get this many chances to be where we are and he wants to be a part of it, which he has," Cooper said. But immediately, you're concerned [with] the impact he'll have on their power play."Tampa Bay is 10-for-59 (17 percent) on the power play in 20 postseason games but has not converted since Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final against the New York Islanders (0-for-14).Stamkos participated in drills with the top power-play unit during training camp in July but did not participate in a full practice until after the Lightning arrived in Toronto, the hub city for the Eastern Conference through the second round of the playoffs, on July 26. If that time comes, he'll be put in to play, not just sit on the bench."Stamkos, who was second on the Lightning this season with 66 points (29 goals, 37 assists) in 57 games, last played on Feb. 25. NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup, the Stanley Cup Playoffs logo, the Stanley Cup Final logo, Center Ice name and logo, NHL Conference logos, NHL Winter Classic name, and The Biggest Assist Happens Off The Ice are registered trademarks and Stanley Cup Qualifiers name and logo, NHL.TV, Vintage Hockey word mark and logo, The Game Lives Where You Do, NHL Winter Classic logo, NHL Heritage Classic name and logo, NHL Stadium Series name and logo, NHL All-Star logo, NHL Face-Off name and logo, NHL.