Seen Stamkos? Tampa Bay Lightning Forward is Lighting the Lamp Like an All-Star

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Shh, don't look. It's just Steven Stamkos scoring again. Have you seen it? The latest in the 19-year-old's blossoming highlight reel? If you're not in Tampa Bay, probably not.

If the Lightning get any highlights on SportsCenter or the NHL network, it's usually sandwiched between yet another puff piece on the greatness that is Sidney Crosby or the dominance of Alexander Ovechkin and UFL highlights.

Stamkos scored two power play goals for the Lightning as they avenged an earlier ugly loss to the Ottawa Senators by blowing out the Sens in the St. Pete Times Forum, 5-2.

The goals are Steven's eighth and ninth of the season in just 10 games. He's on pace for 73 goals this season and right now has the look of an elite NHL goal scorer.

Stamkos' blazing speed, stick skills, and vision seem to radiate through the Lightning lineup. Heck, he even set-up Alex Tanguay for a goal.

Indeed, Stamkos is quickly becoming the hockey player the Lightning were hoping to find when they selected him first overall in the 2008 entry draft.

"I'm feeling really confident on the ice," Stamkos told The Associated Press, "Feeling better than it was last year. I want to be out there touching the puck and making some plays. It's working so far and I just want keep it up."

After scoring six goals and 20 points in his first 47 NHL games, a brief two week-strength and conditioning stint mandated by then-interim head coach Rick Tocchet seemed to do the trick for the budding star.

In his last 32 games, he scored 17 goals, 26 points, and seemed to gain more and more confidence with each game.

With nine goals and 14 points in just 10 games, it seems as if he is only scratching the surface of an outstanding 2009-10 campaign.

"He's emerging as a leader," Tocchet said after the 5-2 thrashing of Ottawa. "I'm not going to put too much pressure on him. For a 19-year-old, a pretty good player."

If Stamkos can stay healthy and continue to feel confident, that "pretty good player" may quickly develop into a "pretty great player" soon.

For NHL fans, you may be seeing a lot of Steven Stamkos soon.

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