from the CP at TSN,

Steven Stamkos knows what it's like to come close to getting to the Stanley Cup Final and wind up not playing on the NHL's biggest stage.

It happened to the Tampa Bay Lightning four years ago, and the three-time All-Star is determined to not let another opportunity slip away.

After a slow start to the playoffs, the high-scoring team captain helped the speedy Lightning push the New York Rangers to the brink of elimination from the Eastern Conference finals.

Game 6 is Tuesday night at Amalie Arena. A Lightning victory will send Tampa Bay to the Cup finals for the second time in franchise history. And the Rangers are looking to extend the series to a seventh game, which would be played Friday night in New York.

"You kind of have to realize where you are and kind of use that as a little bit of motivation," Stamkos said. "The harsh reality is, some guys in this room may never get the chance to get this far again. Hopefully everybody does, but you never know in this sport."

Stamkos knows first-hand. He and defenseman Victor Hedman are the only players remaining from the Tampa Bay team that came within one victory of playing in the Cup finals in 2011. The Lightning lost Game 7 to Boston 1-0 and didn't win another playoff game until this year.

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