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Team Happy To See Stamkos On Board

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON

eerlendsson@tampatrib.com

Published: November 1, 2008

TAMPA - Steven Stamkos jumped up, then went to one knee and pumped his fist after seeing Vinny Lecavalier raise his arms in celebration.

Stamkos had just scored the first goal of his career after deflecting Lecavalier's one-timer past Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller at the 9:51 mark of the first period on Thursday. And as bright as the smile was on the rookie's face after finally scoring a goal nine games into his career, it was difficult to tell who was happier for the accomplishment - Stamkos or his teammates.

"The bench was great," Lightning coach Barry Melrose said. "Everybody loves the kid, and we all know what he's been going through without scoring, so we really rallied around the guy."

Even some of the veterans in the locker room get caught up in seeing the rookie enjoy some success.

"He's such an infectious kid, coming into the room smiling every day," goaltender Olie Kolzig said. "Regardless of what people have been writing about him and not having any points, he still came to the rink and is just a happy kid."

As the No. 1 pick in the draft and the center of a Lightning summer marketing campaign, Stamkos faced expectations that were through the roof before he stepped into an NHL rink. And when he arrived in his hometown of Toronto on Tuesday without a point to his credit, some questioned whether the hype was too much for the teenager to handle.

Yet he faced the media conglomerate at his locker stall that morning with the grace of a veteran instead of an 18-year-old just out of junior hockey. That kind of maturity has impressed those who are around him on a daily basis.

"That kid was supposed to come out of the gate and score 12 goals a game and be the next Gordie Howe, and he handled those things really well," Melrose said. "When the going got tough, he never ducked questions and always said the right thing."

Now, Stamkos has the results to back up his answers. He won't have to field questions about a slow start or lack of production or not contributing. To put an exclamation mark on his early-season statement game Thursday in Buffalo, he added an assist on Ryan Malone's goal with 25.5 seconds left in the first period and a second-period goal in which he ripped a quick shot to Miller's glove side.

With a pair of goals, Stamkos became the ninth No. 1 pick to score his first and second career goals in the same game. The others, according to Elias Sports Bureau, were Denis Potvin, Dale Hawerchuk, Wendel Clark, Pierre Turgeon, Joe Murphy, Alexandre Daigle, Patrik Stefan and Alex Ovechkin.

"The confidence is there now, I know I can score at this level," Stamkos said. "To get that second one, I think, really solidified that I can be an impact player at this level, and hopefully I can continue that. It was great to contribute to the team and win, and hopefully I'll have lots of more feelings like that throughout the season."

Reporter Erik Erlendsson can be reached at (813) 259-7835.

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