Steven Stamkos just can't catch a break.

The Tampa Bay Lightning forward is expected to have surgery to repair a meniscus tear Thursday, and his best-case recovery timeline is four months, TSN's Bob McKenzie reports.

Stamkos will head to Vail, Colo., where he is scheduled to undergo the arthroscopic knee procedure, according to the report.

Typical rehab time for the surgery is four-to-six months, but his precise recovery time is yet to be determined.

Stamkos sustained the injury Tuesday night against the Detroit Red Wings.

Last April, Stamkos was diagnosed with a blood clot in his arm, which led to him missing the rest of the regular season and most of the Lightning's playoff run, until returning for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final.

A broken leg limited him to 37 games in 2013-14.

The 26-year-old signed an eight-year, $68-million deal to remain with the Lightning over the summer.

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