Written by
The Sports Network
Tampa, FL (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Lightning will have to continue
their playoff push without captain Vincent Lecavalier, who will be sidelined
indefinitely due to a non-displaced fracture in his right hand.
Lecavalier sat out Tuesday's game against the visiting Anaheim Ducks and his
status for the club's upcoming three-game road trip is unclear. The swing
begins Thursday in Winnipeg before matchups in Pittsburgh and New Jersey.
The 31-year-old center suffered his injury on Saturday in a 2-1 win over the
Capitals, though he played the entire game and logged nearly 20 minutes of ice
time. Lecavalier, though, was sore afterward and left practice early on
Monday.
The top pick of the 1998 draft by the Lightning, Lecavalier had an MRI exam on
Monday. The timing does not favor Tampa Bay, which entered play on Tuesday six
points behind Toronto and Winnipeg for the eighth spot in the Eastern
Conference.
"Obviously it's real disappointing," Lecavalier was quoted as saying on the
team's website. "This is the part of the year here where we are making a push
and we're playing well, so it's too bad I can't help the team."
Lecavalier has 21 goals and 25 assists in 58 games this season, ranking third
on the Lightning with 46 points. However, the forward has logged just two
points over his past seven games.
In 992 career games, the former Stanley Cup champion and Maurice "Rocket"
Richard Trophy winner has 372 goals and 467 assists for 839 points.
The Sports Network