Lightning rule out Stamkos for Game 5

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos will not play in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Dallas Stars on Saturday night in Edmonton.

"We're not going to see him tonight," Lightning coach Jon Cooper confirmed.

Tampa Bay leads the series 3-1 and has a chance to close out its first Stanley Cup championship since 2004.

Stamkos made a brief return to the Lightning lineup for the first time since Feb. 25 in Game 3 and scored a goal. The 30-year-old center skated only five shifts and played 2:47.

Stamkos, who had core muscle surgery in March, was deemed "unfit to play" in Tampa Bay's 5-4 win in Game 4 on Friday night.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 NHL Draft, Stamkos has spent his entire 12-year career with the Lightning and is the franchise's all-time leader with 422 goals. He ranks third in games (803), assists (410) and points (832).

--Field Level Media