The Tampa Bay Lightning were pleased to welcome Steven Stamkos back to the ice prior to Friday's preseason game against the Nashville Predators.

The captain is playing his first game since tearing the lateral meniscus in his right knee back on Nov. 15, 2016.

"You're just going out there responding to the play, you're letting the game come to you," Stamkos said earlier in the day.

He responded with an assist on Victor Hedman's opening goal just 33 seconds into the game.

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