Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos is unavailable for the remainder of the Stanley Cup Final, head coach Jon Cooper announced Sunday.

Stamkos suited up for Game 3 of his club's series versus the Dallas Stars - his only appearance of the postseason. He made the most of it, scoring a laser of a goal while logging just 2:47 of ice time across five shifts in the Tampa victory.

"Hopefully the next time you see him on the ice is during a trophy presentation," Cooper said, per Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press.

Stamkos missed time during the regular season due to core muscle surgery and has been dealing with a lower-body injury since the Lightning reconvened in July.

The Lightning currently lead the Stanley Cup Final 3-2 with Game 6 scheduled for Monday night.

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"Captain America" reigns supreme.

Joe Pavelski's tying goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final puts him solely in first place on the all-time list of American playoff scorers.

The Dallas Stars forward's late equalizer, his second in as many nights, was his 61st postseason marker in 160 career playoff games. He passed Joe Mullen, who netted 60 in 143 playoff contests.

Pavelski eclipsed Mike Modano's total of 58 and tied Mullen with a pair of goals during the Stars' overtime loss in Game 4 on Friday. The 36-year-old replied, "Keep it, next question," when asked about the record following the defeat.

The veteran forward still had other priorities on his mind after Dallas' 3-2 double-overtime victory Saturday.

Pavelski's 13th goal of the 2019-20 postseason ties Lightning star Brayden Point for the NHL lead - though Pavelski has played four more contests.

Game 6 is scheduled for Monday at 8 p.m. ET.

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The Dallas Stars defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 in double overtime in Game 5 on Saturday, keeping their hopes alive in the Stanley Cup Final.

Stars forward Corey Perry's second score was the game-winning goal.

Perry opened scoring with minutes remaining in the first period, giving the Stars the lead. Lightning forward Ondrej Palat got Tampa on the board in the second, tying the game up heading into the third.

Just over three minutes into the final frame, Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev beat Stars goaltender Anton Khudobin to score the go-ahead goal. Stars veteran Joe Pavelski tied things up with 6:45 remaining in the third period and forced overtime for the second straight game.

Pavelski's 61st career goal sets the record for most playoff goals scored by an American-born player, passing Joe Mullen.

Khudobin was superb in the game, stopping 39 of the 41 shots he faced. Andrei Vasilevskiy let in three goals on 33 shots.

Dallas now trails the series 3-2. The teams will play Game 6 on Monday at 8 p.m. ET.

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Dustin Byfuglien appears close to calling it a career.

"It's very unlikely Dustin Byfuglien's going to play," Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on the latest edition of "Saturday Headlines."

"Teams have asked," Friedman continued. "One of the teams that has asked is the Minnesota Wild. They figured because Byfuglien obviously has a lot of ties to Minnesota, he'd want to play there, and they could use him. They're probably the only team that has a chance, but I checked with Byfuglien's agent, Ben Hankinson, (and) he said it's doubtful that Byfuglien will play again."

The 35-year-old defenseman sat out the 2019-20 campaign amid a contract dispute with the Winnipeg Jets, which stemmed from a difference of opinion over his health entering this season. He and the club agreed to a contract termination in April, which made him an unrestricted free agent.

Byfuglien originally had one year remaining on his contract with Winnipeg and would have received payments through 2020-21.

The gargantuan rearguard would be one of the top free-agent blue-liners if he chose to resume playing, despite his age and his extended NHL absence.

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The New York Rangers have traded defenseman Marc Staal and a 2021 second-round draft pick to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for future considerations, the team announced Saturday.

Staal appeared in 52 games for New York during the 2019-20 regular season, recording two goals and nine assists. He had a 37.31 Corsi For percentage and 36.22 expected goals for percentage in all situations.

The 33-year-old has one year remaining on a deal carrying a $5.7-million annual cap hit. He's spent his entire 13-season career with the Rangers after they selected him 12th overall in the 2005 NHL Draft.

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Dallas Stars forward Roope Hintz is unfit to play in Saturday's Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning, head coach Rick Bowness told NHL.com's Tom Gulitti.

Hintz took a hard tumble into the boards in Friday's Game 4 after tripping over Tyler Johnson's stick. He left the game and did not return.

No penalty was called on the play.

Hintz tallied 19 goals and 14 assists in 60 games during the regular season and has added 13 points in 25 playoff contests. Justin Dowling will draw into the lineup in Hintz's absence.

The Stars will also continue to be without forwards Blake Comeau and Radek Faksa for the die-or-die tilt. Additionally, goaltender Ben Bishop remains unfit to play, so Anton Khudobin is starting on back-to-back nights.

Dallas trails 3-1 in the series and needs a victory Saturday to keep its Stanley Cup hopes alive.

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