TAMPA, Fla. — It has come to this for Steven Stamkos: Trying to explain a reality that fails to fit with his impressive individual numbers. The imbalance, at times, seems to wear on him. For all his offensive prowess — he leads the NHL with 18 goals and is second in points with 35, behind Sidney Crosby’s 39 — the Tampa Bay Lightning are laboring to keep the playoffs a possibility with half their season left.
The gifted center, only 23, tried to put the puzzle in words Thursday night at Tampa Bay Times Forum, after a 2-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, a defeat that placed the Lightning six points behind the Southeast Division-leading Carolina Hurricanes (27) and five behind the New York Rangers for the final Eastern Conference playoff slot. Stamkos has earned points in 11 of the last 12 games, a streak that was extended with a fine third-period goal Thursday past Al Montoya, but the Lightning are 4-8 in that time.
A year after leading the league in goals with 60, he’s on pace for 36 this winter — two more than former Washington Capitals winger Peter Bondra, who led the NHL in the category during the last 48-game schedule in the 1994-95 campaign. He has continued his progression as one of the game’s great young stars only five seasons into his NHL career, but Tampa Bay must finish strong to earn its second postseason berth in six years.
Late Thursday, Stamkos was asked how he manages the inequality. Slouched at his stall, in a quiet dressing room, he rubbed his chin with his left hand. He avoided eye contact. Team concerns, not singular accolades, were on his mind.
“It’s kind of meaningless, really,” Stamkos said of his production. “Obviously, you want to produce, but you want to do it when the team is winning. It feels a lot better that way. It feels like you’re doing something to help the team win. If you’re not winning, maybe there’s more I can do, we can do as a team.”
Stamkos’ predicament is one of the NHL’s enigmas this season. He was named the league’s First Star for February, after posting 10 goals and 10 assists in 14 games. The Lightning rank second in goals scored, with a 3.42 per-game average, but they’re No. 26 in goals allowed, with a 3.08 per-game average.
In January during training camp, Stamkos addressed his drive to improve. He spoke about becoming an all-around player: Elevating his face-off performance, becoming someone teammates can trust in a tight game’s closing minutes, placing healthy pressure and expectations on himself to perform as a complete talent.
Two months later, Stamkos seems advanced with his progress. On Thursday morning, coach Guy Boucher praised him for being “one of those guys who never has enough,” someone who studies video of his defensive technique, someone who develops winning habits to complement a scoring touch. Winnipeg coach Claude Noel called him an “elite player that’s going to continue getting better.” Lightning center Cory Conacher has seen Stamkos chase the puck with more aggression in recent games. Lightning winger Ryan Malone has seen Stamkos influence other younger players.
“Being so young, it’s somewhat surprising to have such a good leadership role,” Conacher said of Stamkos. “He’s a guy who I have looked up to for the last couple years. … He’s a guy who has an eye for the back of the net. He works hard for it, though. He’s not a guy who floats around and gets the bounces. He works for everything he gets. That’s why he gets rewarded for those goals.”
“He worries about what he can control and how he takes care of himself,” Malone said. “He’s playing good hockey. He’s going to create chances and get opportunities. I think we all see that. I think that’s the biggest thing. He knows the results will come with all the hard work he puts in.”
Still, it remains to be discovered where that work will guide him and his team. Stamkos envisions his role this way: A producer on offense and an asset on defense, but above all, someone whose individual fame leads to group success.
Currently, one result is out of place without the other. How will he adapt?
“It’s not always about goals and assists. I mean, it’s about being a difference in a winning cause, and it’s frustrating when your team’s not winning,” said Stamkos, rubbing his left hand through his matted hair. “I don’t care how many goals, assists, points you have — it means nothing at the end of the day if you’re not in the playoffs.”
So, simply, Stamkos will continue to push and hope his elite offensive numbers and improving defensive skills translate to upward movement in the standings. It’s too early to press. But the season has reached its halfway point, so it’s not premature to wonder if this imbalance for him will last.
Whatever the result, it’s fair to assume Stamkos will again jolt life into Tampa Bay Times Forum, as he did Thursday after his slap shot zipped past Montoya early in the third period. The sight was another display of the young star’s intellect and mobility: He skated into the low slot and pushed the puck off his stick before his right knee slid on the ice after a pass from winger Martin St. Louis.
The horn sounded. Stamkos glided into St. Louis’ arms. Nearby, fans behind the glass stood and cheered.
So far this season, individual celebrations have been plenty for Stamkos. He hopes team results soon follow.
You can follow Andrew Astleford on Twitter @aastleford or email him at aastleford@gmail.com.
