
Steven Stamkos of Markham, Ontario has been named the National Hockey League player of the month for April. In 16 games, Stamkos had 12 goals and 21 assists for 33 points in 16 games.
Stamkos set the Lightning record for most points in a single month. He had two four-point games. He had two goals and two assists for four points in an 8-4 Tampa Bay win over the Florida Panthers on April 24, and two goals and two assists for four points in a 4-1 Tampa win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 26.
In addition to 33 points, Stamkos was a +13 with 12 penalty minutes, 10 power-play points, three game-winning goals, 53 shots on goal, 15 hits, seven blocked shots, and 81 faceoff wins. Stamkos’s game-winning goals came in a 7-4 Tampa Bay win over the Winnipeg Jets on April 16, in the win over the Blue Jackets on April 26, and in a 6-4 Tampa Bay win over the New York Islanders on April 29.
On the season, Stamkos actually led the NHL with 11 game-winning goals. He also had 42 goals and 64 assists for 106 points, was a +24, with 36 penalty minutes, 36 power-play points, 241 shots on goal, 545 faceoff wins, 31 blocked shots, 93 hits, 30 takeaways, and 24 giveaways.
In the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Lightning play the Toronto Maple Leafs beginning on Monday. Toronto has not won a playoff series since 2004.