zone.Couture, who had

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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 Adidas Erik Karlsson 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,” 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 Adidas Patrick Maroon Jersey ,” 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, 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, 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 Adidas Tyler Bozak Jersey , 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.”—AP Sports Writer Teresa M. Walker in Nashville, Tennessee, contributed.— SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Sharks coach Peter DeBoer wasn’t overly concerned when his team struggled to get wins on an early road trip despite controlling play for much of the time. San Jose was able to put it all together on a two-game homestand that showed what this team could be capable of achieving this season.Brent Burns scored San Jose’s first goal from a defenseman this season and Logan Couture got his fourth in two games to lead the Sharks past the New York Islanders 4-1 on Saturday night.The Sharks outscored Buffalo and New York 9-2 in winning both games at home after starting the season with just two wins in the first six games.“We didn’t get rewarded on the road to start the season, but I knew it was a matter of time if we kept playing that way,” DeBoer said. “We got home here, we’re comfortable, we started to score, we feel a little bit confident. There’s two good home wins for us. We go back on the road again now.”Timo Meier and Joonas Donskoi also scored to help the Sharks avenge a 4-0 loss at the Islanders earlier this month in a game that got testy down the stretch. There were 76 minutes of penalties handed out over the final 24 minutes Adidas Chad Johnson Jersey , with two fights and several other smaller skirmishes.The Islanders were upset at Burns for what they thought was a slew foot, while the Sharks were angered by a hit from Anders Lee against Evander Kane, among other plays.“I like that we stood up for ourselves,” Couture said. “I’ll never understand when guys go out down 3-1 with 5 minutes left and try to act tough and start fights. It has no bearing on a game when a game is over like that. It’s good to see us stick up for ourselves.”Martin Jones made 24 saves to earn his second straight win after opening the season with three regulation losses in his first four starts.Brock Nelson scored for the Islanders, who finished a 1-3 road trip. Robin Lehner made 37 saves after shutting out San Jose on Oct. 8.“At times we weren’t really fully engaged as a team, especially in the second. When we had a few mistakes the bench kind of sunk, we didn’t pick each other up and find a way to take the game back,” forward Matt Martin said. “That’s disappointing but I definitely think the third period from a physical and emotional standpoint, it’s a positive that we’re all going to have each other’s backs in here, no one’s going to quit.”The Sharks came into the season expecting big production from the blue line after acquiring two-time Norris Trophy winning-defenseman Erik Karlsson from Ottawa. Burns also won a Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman and the two are the top scoring blue-liners in the league in recent years.But neither one had scored a goal until Burns struck in the second period during 4-on-4 play. Shortly after being denied by the post on a big shot Adidas Brian Flynn Jersey , Burns muscled his way in from the boards and beat Lehner from in close with a backhand to give the Sharks a 3-1 lead.Donskoi had put San Jose ahead earlier in the second when he converted on a rebound after fellow Finn Antti Suomela forced a turnover from Scott Mayfield in the offensive zone.Couture, who had a hat trick Thursday against Buffalo, added the insurance goal early in the third off a feed from Tomas Hertl.The teams traded goals in the first period, with Meier opening the scoring after taking a feed from Couture in close. Lehner saved Meier’s first shot with his pad, but Meier knocked the rebound under Lehner’s arm to give him points in five straight.The Islanders answered in the final minute of the first when Nelson converted on a pass from Josh Bailey.NOTES: Islanders forward Anthony Beauvillier (illness) was scratched and replaced by Tom Kuhnhackl. … Sharks C Joe Thornton missed his sixth straight game with swelling in his surgically repaired right knee.UP NEXTIslanders: Host the Florida Panthers on Wednesday.Sharks: Visit the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.