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Seen Steven Stamkos? Is he healthy?

The Eastern Conference No. 1 seed Tampa Bay Lightning sure hope so after Stamkos missed four of the last seven regular-season games with a nagging lower-body injury.

After a torn meniscus in his right knee cost Stamkos several months and likely Tampa Bay a playoff spot last season Cheap Josh Allen Jersey , his status bears watching more than any other injured player going into the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Stamkos was a full participant in practice Monday and said it’s ”the hope” to be ready for Game 1 Thursday when the Lightning host the New Jersey Devils.

”Definitely a step in the right direction,” Stamkos told reporters in Tampa. ”Felt pretty good all things considered.”

That’s a good sign for the Lightning, who got 100 points from Nikita Kucherov but count on Stamkos to be their top-line center and a big-time scorer on the power play.

Tampa Bay’s opponent is hoping to get Marcus Johansson back after he missed New Jersey’s final 35 games with a concussion. Johansson has been cleared for contact, but not yet to play and said over the weekend he’s feeling better.

In the West, the already-deep top-seeded Nashville Predators are on the verge of getting forward Calle Jarnkrok back after he missed almost the final month of the regular season with an upper-body injury. Jarnkrok had 16 goals and 19 assists for 35 points in 68 games with Nashville, which opens against Colorado.

”I think he’s getting real close http://www.chargersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-justin-jones-jersey ,” general manager David Poile said. ”We get into this time of the year, so I guess you’d have to say he’s day to day.”

Washington Capitals coach Barry Trotz called forwards T.J. Oshie (lower body) and Jay Beagle (upper body) day to day, too. Oshie practiced Tuesday, while Beagle skated afterward with a more questionable status.

”I feel good,” Oshie said. ”I feel right now I’m playing my best hockey. Obviously, I’ve rested a couple of games. But I feel like I’ve had the most energy and the most clarity out there then I did for a while there. Right there I feel at my best.”

In the first round Cheap Josh Allen Jersey , they’ll have to deal with Columbus captain Nick Foligno, who’s ready to rejoin the Blue Jackets lineup after missing time with a lower-body injury.

A few high-profile defensemen weren’t as fortunate, and their injuries could prove costly. Boston lost Brandon Carlo and Minnesota lost Ryan Suter to broken ankles, and Winnipeg won’t have Dmitry Kulikov with a back injury. Winnipeg faces Minnesota in the first round.

It’s the second consecutive playoffs Carlo missed after he was concussed by Alex Ovechkin a year ago.

”It’s the one thing he’s been looking forward to,” Krug said of Carlo. ”Obviously he went through it last year missing the time and this year he was excited for it. You feel awful. It’s a tough break.”

Coach Bruce Cassidy said: ”It (stinks), honestly Kody Clark Capitals Jersey , for a guy that’s played almost every regular-season game. … It’s disappointing for me. He’s a well-liked guy on this team and done a lot, so that’s disheartening.”

The Bruins are optimistic injured forwards Rick Nash, Riley Nash and Sean Kuraly will be ready for Game 1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.

”They’re all working that way,” Boston GM Don Sweeney said. ”Hopefully they’ll all be available.”

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AP Sports Writer Teresa M. Walker in Nashville, Tennessee, contributed.

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Cavaliers forward LeBron James said he just needed a chance to ”recalibrate” when he left in the second quarter Tuesday night after taking a shot to the jaw from Boston’s Jayson Tatum.

”It was a tough play. Obviously incidental http://www.bearsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-anthony-miller-jersey ,” James said after the Celtics beat Cleveland 107-94 to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals despite his 42 points and a triple-double. ”His shoulder hit me square in the jaw. It didn’t affect my game after that.”

James was driving to the basket when Tatum went for the steal with both hands and collided with the Cleveland star, driving his shoulder into James’ jaw. James spent about 10 seconds on one knee under the basket, then walked off to the Cleveland locker room.

He returned a few minutes later and finished out the half with what the Cavaliers said was a strained neck.

”I felt like I needed to go back to the locker room, which I did, and kind of recalibrate,” James said.

Asked if he was checked for a concussion Tremaine Edmunds Color Rush Jersey , he said: ”I was checked for multiple things, and I passed them all. That’s why I was able to come back and finish the half.”

After scoring just 15 points in Boston’s Game 1 blowout, James had 21 in the first quarter on Tuesday night. He finished with 12 assists and 10 rebounds, but also had six turnovers.

The Celtics won the first two games at home, and the series now heads to Cleveland for Game 3 on Saturday.

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