PITTSBURGH – It was an optional skate for the Tampa Bay Lightning, so Steven Stamkos took the option. Almost an hour later, as one of the last players on the ice, he returned to the Lightning dressing room, and announced … nothing had changed.

“No update,” said Stamkos, who remains out for the Lightning after surgery to correct a blood clot.

Does ‘no update’ mean there’s nothing new on the potential for him to play in the Eastern Conference Final, which reaches Game 5 on Sunday night?

“Correct,” he said.

Is it possible that there might be some new news from Stamkos in the next few days?

“I don’t see any likely scenario. No,” he said.

That last answer is significant. TSN insider Bob McKenzie asked, rhetorically, if Stamkos would be back for Game 5 or perhaps Game 6 on Tuesday night. (Please read McKenzie’s in-depth look at Stamkos and his blood clot recovery from Thursday.)

Usually, McKenzie isn’t going to speculate unless he has an inkling that a return is possible this series. But Stamkos added that there isn’t a “target game” he’s looking at for a comeback.

The Lightning and the Pittsburgh Penguins are tied 2-2 in the conference final. Stamkos hasn’t played since March 31. The recovery time is usually 1-to-3 months for a Vascular Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (called Effort Thrombosis), which was found near his right collarbone.

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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

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