Stamkos underwent another set of X-rays this afternoon. The bone is reportedly healing very well but the Lightning are playing it smart. Stamkos is expected to return when the Lightning get back to Tampa Bay on March 6 vs. the Sabres.

After the brief rest, Stamkos returned to the ice last week along with the rest of his non-Olympian teammates looking as good as ever 14 weeks after suffering a broken right tibia. Though he pushed hard to be ready to return before the break and represent Canada at the Olympics, a CT scan performed on Feb. 5 revealed the bone was not quite healed enough to clear his return. "It did feel good (on Feb. 5), but it feels even better now," Stamkos said. "Maybe I wasn't as far along as I thought, knowing how much better it has felt now that I have kept working on it and taking a couple of days off. It's just going to continually get better, and that's positive knowing it's doing that.''

After undergoing a CT Scan that revealed a not fully healed tibia, superstar Steven Stamkos has not been cleared to play for Team Canada in the upcoming Winter Olympics. Bad news for Stamkos, as he was doing everything in his power to make it back and represent his country in Sochi. As a Stamkos fantasy owner, I am breathing a sigh of relief knowing that he will be ready to resume after the Olympic Break, 100% intact and and less prone to being re-injured. We all act out of selfish interests, but look an "unfulfilled" Stamkos to take out his disappointment on the rest of the NHL in a few weeks. Dark-Horse Alert: Albeit in a lop-sided 5-1 loss to Pittsburgh, Winger Drew Stafford scored his 5th goal in 6 games for Buffalo. The incredibly inconsistent forward is enduring a miserable season with just 19 points in 47 games, but he has the offensive arsenal to put huge numbers over a short period of time. In '10/11, the impending UFA scored 31 goals and ended the '11/12 with a point-per-game pace over the last 20 games. The streakiest of forwards that drives fantasy owners nuts, but one of the only few left on the waiver-wire that has the ability to be a difference-maker. Watch him. Hold On To Niskanen: I know, I know.. I clearly advocated for "Sell High" time on Matt Niskanen when all the Penguins defensemen are in "house", but there seems to be something more wrong with Kris Letang than just your "average" cold. He has missed 4 games with a mystery ailment, so Niskanen continues to reap the rewards of playing point on the best power-play on the planet. With his assist last night, he has collected 10 points in the last 10 games. Hold onto him as we learn more about what is ailing Letang.

After undergoing a CT Scan that revealed a not fully healed tibia, superstar Steven Stamkos has not been cleared to play for Team Canada in the upcoming Winter Olympics. Bad news for Stamkos, as he was doing everything in his power to make it back and represent his country in Sochi. As a Stamkos fantasy owner, I am breathing a sigh of relief knowing that he will be ready to resume after the Olympic Break, 100% intact and and less prone to being re-injured. We all act out of selfish interests, but look an "unfulfilled" Stamkos to take out his disappointment on the rest of the NHL in a few weeks. Dark-Horse Alert: Albeit in a lop-sided 5-1 loss to Pittsburgh, Winger Drew Stafford scored his 5th goal in 6 games for Buffalo. The incredibly inconsistent forward is enduring a miserable season with just 19 points in 47 games, but he has the offensive arsenal to put huge numbers over a short period of time. In '10/11, the impending UFA scored 31 goals and ended the '11/12 with a point-per-game pace over the last 20 games. The streakiest of forwards that drives fantasy owners nuts, but one of the only few left on the waiver-wire that has the ability to be a difference-maker. Watch him. Hold On To Niskanen: I know, I know.. I clearly advocated for "Sell High" time for Matt Niskanen when all the Penguins defensemen are in "house", but there seems to be something more wrong with Kris Letang than just your "average" cold. He has missed 4 games with a mystery ailment, so Niskanen continues to reap the rewards of playing point on the best power-play on the planet. With his assist last night, he has collected 10 points in the last 10 games. Hold onto him as we learn more about what is ailing Letang.

Stamkos fractured his right tibia on November 11 in a game against the Boston Bruins and he subsequently had surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital to place a titanium rod in the tibia. He has missed 39 regular season games to this point. "Today is obviously very disappointing for me," Stamkos said. "I honestly believe that we did everything possible in order to have my injured leg ready in time for the Olympics, but I realize you can't force healing.

It all depends how Stamkos responds to an increased workload. Stamkos is expected to begin 'light' contact on Saturday. So far things are trending in the right direction for Stammer to be ready for Sochi 2014.

Lots of games yesterday in the NHL with 13 played. There were several matinees starting with the Rangers and Ottawa.  New York has been playing a lot better recently.  Maybe Coach Alain Vigneault's system is finally kicking in.  There is certainly enough talent on the team.  They beat the Senators 4-1 in Otttawa.  The star of the game was Rangers' forward Derek Stepan who had a goal and 2 assists. Stepan had gone 13 straight games without a goal, so I am sure he is happy to get that monkey off his back.  With 30 points on the season though we can't recommend him unless you are really hurting at forward.  Young forward Mats Zuccarello had a goal for New York, and he has been hot lately with 10 points in his last 11 games...What can you say about Martin St. Louis? 4 goals last night despite the loss to San Jose.  Who says St. Louis can't score without Steven Stamkos? With 49 points this season he is still going strong.   Joe Pavelski had a big game himself for the Sharks with 3 goals. Pavelski has 48 points on the season, and is a top fantasy forward.  Patrick Marleau continued his solid season with a goal and 2 assists, and he has 46 points on the year. Rare off night for Tampa goalie Ben Bishop who allowed all 5 goals. He'll bounce back...Winnipeg beat Edmonton 3-2 in OT, and Jets defenseman Jacob Trouba had 2 goals, including the game winner. He has 16 points on the season, but in only 33 games.  You should pick him up if he is available in your league...Defenseman Tyler Myers had 2 goals for Buffalo in their loss to Columbus. Myers has 15 points on the season, so he is only worthwhile if you have injuries on defense.  Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky got the win with 26 saves, and he has won 5 straight games since returning from a groin strain. He should start for Russia in the Olympic games.   Kessel is king: Toronto forward Phil Kessel will be at the Olympics as well playing for the USA. He had a goal and an assist last night in the win over Montreal.  Kessel has 48 points on the season, and he is a premiere fantasy forward.  His linemate Joffrey Lupul had a goal and an assist as well, but with only 27 points on the season, he is not performing like last year. The other Henrik: We often talk about Rangers' goalie Henrik Lundqvist on this site, but there is another Henrik in the NHL, and that is Henrik Zetterberg of Detroit. Zetterberg had a goal and an assist last night in Detroit's shootout win over Los Angeles.  Zetterberg has 38 points in 37 ...

Lots of games yesterday in the NHL with 13 played. There were several matinees starting with the Rangers and Ottawa.  New York has been playing a lot better recently.  Maybe Coach Alain Vigneault's system is finally kicking in.  There is certainly enough talent on the team.  They beat the Senators 4-1 in Otttawa.  The star of the game was Rangers' forward Derek Stepan who had a goal and 2 assists. Stepan had gone 13 straight games without a goal, so I am sure he is happy to get that monkey off his back.  With 30 points on the season though we can't recommend him unless you are really hurting at forward.  Young forward Mats Zuccarello had a goal for New York, and he has been hot lately with 10 points in his last 11 games...What can you say about Martin St. Louis? 4 goals last night despite the loss to San Jose.  Who says St. Louis can't score without Steven Stamkos? With 49 points this season he is still going strong.   Joe Pavelski had a big game himself for the Sharks with 3 goals. Pavelski has 48 points on the season, and is a top fantasy forward.  Patrick Marleau continued his solid season with a goal and 2 assists, and he has 46 points on the year. Rare off night for Tampa goalie Ben Bishop who allowed all 5 goals. He'll bounce back...Winnipeg beat Edmonton 3-2 in OT, and Jets defenseman Jacob Trouba had 2 goals, including the game winner. He has 16 points on the season, but in only 33 games.  You should pick him up if he is available in your league...Defenseman Tyler Myers had 2 goals for Buffalo in their loss to Columbus. Myers has 15 points on the season, so he is only worthwhile if you have injuries on defense.  Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky got the win with 26 saves, and he has won 5 straight games since returning from a groin strain. He should start for Russia in the Olympic games.   Kessel is king: Toronto forward Phil Kessel will be at the Olympics as well playing for the USA. He had a goal and an assist last night in the win over Montreal.  Kessel has 48 points on the season, and he is a premiere fantasy forward.  His linemate Joffrey Lupul had a goal and an assist as well, but with only 27 points on the season, he is not performing like last year. The other Henrik: We often talk about Rangers' goalie Henrik Lundqvist on this site, but there is another Henrik in the NHL, and that is Henrik Zetterberg of Detroit. Zetterberg had a goal and an assist last night in Detroit's shootout win over Los Angeles.  Zetterberg has 38 points in 37 ...

Stamkos was active in multiple drills with the Lightning as he continues to progress towards a pre-Olympic return. Stamkos' recovery has been nothing short of spectacular, but there is still no timetable for his return.

Although he had a fairly easy night against an anemic Calgary offensive attack, Ben Bishop posted a 19-save shutout in the Lightning's 2-0 road win over the Flames. His omission from the United States Olympic squad is quite glaring, considering his staggering numbers of 22-5-3, 1.83 GAA and a .936 SP are among the best in the NHL. Bishop fantasy owners have hit the "jackpot" with this mid-late round pick in most fantasy drafts, but this gift will continue giving as Tampa Bay superstar Steven Stamkos is on the verge of returning to the line-up. Given probable more goal support in the second half and the motivation of being snubbed by Team USA, there is no reason to suggest that Bishop will not remain an elite fantasy goalie option for the rest of the season.Despite the absence of Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, the Pittsburgh Penguins keep rolling on offense with a 5-2 beat-down on the New York Rangers. All eyes have been on Sidney Crosby (1G/2A) and James Neal (1A), but their quiet star by association Chris Kunitz keeps putting up elite fantasy numbers. With 2 goals and 1 assist, the underrated winger has collected 46 points in 43 games, good for fourth in the NHL. Not a sexy name by any means in fantasy circles, Kunitz have followed up his marvelous 52-point performance in '12-13 with another big year so far. As long as the top-line forward continues to get primary power-play time, he will keep producing at a high level. The perpetual injury bug that has been hampering the Pen's skaters has also lend a hand in keeping Kunitz high up the "food chain" in Pittsburgh. Keep riding him!If you are a Patrick Sharp fantasy owner, you can be a little thankful that Team Canada has yet to announce it's Olympic roster. The high-scoring winger was initially thought to have just an outside chance of making the team, but his recent stretch of incredible scoring and undeniable chemistry with Chicago captain Jonathan Toews is making him hard to ignore. You can bet your bottom dollar that his recent scoring surge, where he has scored 2 "hat tricks" and 9 overall points in the last five games, is at least partially a result of Sharp proving that he belongs in the Sochi games. Unfortunately, it doesn't always work out as two streaking USA forwards, Bobby Ryan and Kyle Okposo, were snubbed despite great numbers. Big advantage for Sharp- TOEWS. Enough said. Keep scoring Patrick!Devil's defenseman Marek Zidlicky has been on a point binge lately, scoring two goals last night ...