Practice update: Brown could return soon, Stralman also close, maybe Stamkos

J.T. Brown isn't sure about playing tonight in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final.

Anton Stralman is out, but there's a possibility he'll be back this series.

Steven Stamkos remains on blood thinners and thus is still out. However, there's still the hope he may return in this series... and play while on blood thinners.

These were the biggest news (or non-news, depending on how you look at it) to come out of this morning's optional skate, which included more than a dozen players taking the ice in Pittsburgh. Oh, and Stamkos with blue and white pom poms.

J.T. Brown says he's feeling better. Still not sure about tonight. "It's getting close." #TBLightning

— Joe Smith (@TBTimes_JSmith) May 13, 2016

Stralman on progress: "It's a process. It's getting a little better every day. Try to push it a little bit harder, and so far so good."

— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) May 13, 2016

Stamkos: "There's a chance. That's why I'm putting in the hard work. If there wasn't a chance, I'd have pom poms out and be a cheerleader"

— Joe Smith (@TBTimes_JSmith) May 13, 2016

So the name of the game is "cautious optimism," but the optimism is real.

It's so real that the Columbus Blue Jackets tried to exploit that. Well, done.

@TBLightning wow!

— ColumbusBlueJackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) May 13, 2016