strained flexor mass, MVP candidate Daniel Murphy has missed the past five games with a strained buttocks

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos?underwent surgery on the lateral meniscus tear in his right knee and is expected to miss approximately four months, the team announced on Thursday.The Lightning said Wednesday that Stamkos was out indefinitely, but coach Jon Cooper said the center would be back in time for the playoffs in April.?If we put ourselves in a position to make the playoffs, hes going to be back, Cooper said Thursday. And thatll be better than any trade deadline acquisition that anybody else is going to get.Youve got to take your head out of the sand, dig your heels in and march on. And unfortunately, this has happened to us before and the guys have found a way.TSN was first to report that Stamkos needed surgery.He left the ice in the first period against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, favoring his right leg after getting tangled up with Detroits Gustav Nyquist along the boards.According to the Tampa Bay Times, Stamkos clutched the back of his right knee after the collision and stumbled as he made his way toward the Lightning locker room. He did not return and there was little in the way of updates from Cooper after the Lightnings 4-3 victory.Stamkos was off to a tremendous start to the season. His first-period goal Tuesday gave him nine goals on the season, and his 20 points are tied for third among all NHL players.Stamkos missed all but one of Tampa Bays postseason games last spring with a blood clot issue. But after signing an eight-year contract extension that pays him $8.5 million annually to remain with the Lightning, Stamkos returned in full health and played for Canada at the World Cup of Hockey.Stamkos has collected points in seven of the past nine Lightning games, and Tampa Bay is tied for second in the Atlantic Division with Ottawa with a 10-6-1 record.You live in this reality now, and weve just got to have to face it,?defenseman Victor Hedman?said Thursday. Itll be a good test for us. But at the same?time, we know we can handle it, and we know we can win hockey games even though were going to miss him.Information from ESPNs Scott Burnside was used in this report. Custom Washington Wizards Jerseys . -- For the first time in two months, an opponent was standing up to Alabama. 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WASHINGTON -- Nationals All-Star catcher Wilson Ramos is out for the season because of a torn ACL in his right knee, manager Dusty Baker announced Tuesday.Ramos suffered the injury in Mondays game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.Shortly after play resumed following a 20-minute rain delay Monday, Arizonas Yasmany Tomas hit an RBI double to right field. On the play, Ramos leaped up to catch a high relay throw from first baseman Ryan Zimmerman. When Ramos landed on the dirt next to home plate, he collapsed to the ground, clutching his right knee and grimacing in pain.After spending several minutes on the ground while Washington trainer Paul Lessard examined him, Ramos exited the game. He needed assistance as he walked gingerly toward the first-base dugout and barely put any weight on his right leg.It is the same leg Ramos injured in May 2012, when he tore his ACL and MCL during a game in Cincinnati.Baker said Ramos will see doctors this week, then determine when he will have surgery.Hes upbeat about things, Baker said. He knows that other guys have come back from this. ... And Im positive as strong and as positive as he is and the way he works that hell be back stronger than ever.A 29-year-old free agent-to be, Ramos was in the midst of a career year in which he was named an All-Star for the first time. In 131 games for the Nationals, he was hitting .307 with 22 home runs and 80 RBIs, all personal bests.Without Ramos, Washhington will turn to veteran backup Jose Lobaton and rookie Pedro Severino to fill the void behind the plate.dddddddddddd Additionally, the Nationals called up catcher Spencer Kieboom from Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday to provide catching depth.Washington also is dealing with injuries to several other key players. All-Star pitcher Stephen Strasburg has been out since early September with a strained flexor mass, MVP candidate Daniel Murphy has missed the past five games with a strained buttocks muscle, and reigning MVP Bryce Harper has been out after injuring his thumb while sliding Sunday.There is no timetable for Strasburgs return, although general manager Mike Rizzo said Tuesday that he doesnt expect to have Strasburg back on the mound for the beginning of the playoffs.Baker said prior to Mondays game that he expects Murphy to be ready for the playoffs. After the game, Baker announced that Harpers X-rays came back negative.In addition, pitcher A.J. Cole was suspended for five games and fined Tuesday for throwing a pitch near the head of Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang on Saturday. Cole is appealing.The Nationals have clinched the National League East division title and will face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. ' ' '