in the 1978 nhl entry draft, tambellini was chosen 15th overall by the new york islanders. he would spend two years with new york, winning a stanley cup with them in the 1980 season. he was dealt at the trade deadline the next season along with chico resch to the colorado rockies in exchange for mike mcewen. he stayed with colorado for two seasons, including their first season as the new jersey devils as the franchise was relocated in 1982. while playing for the new jersey devils, tambellini scored the new team's first ever hat trick on december 3, 1982 in a 5-4 victory over hartford. after the 1982–83 season, steve was traded to the calgary flames. he would remain there for two seasons before signing on as a free agent with the vancouver canucks, where he would round out his nhl career.