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Ward May Be Fixture On Line

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 21, 2007

TAMPA - When Lightning RW Jason Ward found out Wednesday that he would be playing on a line with C Vinny Lecavalier and LW Vinny Prospal against the Maple Leafs, there was no burst of adrenaline, no extra dose of anticipation.

"I play the same way. The thing I told myself was, 'Try not to play their game,'" Ward said. "I'm there to play my game and get pucks deep. Sometimes you try to do too much when you play with those guys. I just try to keep my game very simple and play that way."

In doing so, Ward, who scored short-handed Tuesday in Atlanta, found himself in position to score for the second consecutive game. And it was the kind of goal - coming less than a minute after Toronto took a 1-0 lead - that can keep a player on the top scoring line for a while.

"Lecavalier had the puck wide, and he's got great patience with the puck," Ward said. "I knew he saw me, so I just tried to get myself into a scoring area near the crease. As soon as I got it, I just tried to get it over to the far side, because I knew Toronto G Vesa Toskala would probably be over on the left."

The goal was Ward's fifth, one more than he had in 17 games after being traded by the Kings to the Lightning last season.

MACDONALD INJURED: Lightning F Craig MacDonald took a puck in the mouth in the third period off a shot by Toronto D Hal Gill. MacDonald left the ice immediately and took stitches to repair lacerations in his mouth and on his tongue.

MacDonald also lost several teeth. If he can't play Saturday against Carolina, the Lightning can make an emergency call-up from AHL affiliate Norfolk despite the week-long holiday roster freeze.

LUKOWICH RESTS: Lightning D Brad Lukowich was scratched so he could rest a sore left shoulder. Lukowich, whose health and availability will be evaluated day to day, leads the team in blocked shots (70, t-11th in the league) and in hits (93, ninth in the league).

In his place Thursday was recently promoted D Jay Leach, a 28-year-old veteran of the AHL who played two games with Boston in 2005-06. Leach, who was signed as a free agent on July 3, played 28 games with the Norfolk Admirals, scoring three goals with three assists.

"We've got some younger prospects down there Matt Smaby, Vladimir Mihalik that we want to leave down there," Lightning coach John Tortorella said. "In the situation right now, we're bringing Leachie up here. I'm not sure how much ice time he's going to get. ... We just want him to try to keep it simple and put his big body into it. That's why he's up here."

EUROPEAN TOUR: The four teams being considered to open next season in the Czech Republic and Sweden - the Lightning, Senators, Penguins and Rangers - are still on track to do so, but there has been talk of all four playing one game each in Prague and Stockholm.

It has been reported that the Lightning would open their season against the Rangers in Prague, while the Senators and Penguins open in Stockholm. It's not known which teams would open in which cities.

NUTS AND BOLTS: Prospective Lightning owner Oren Koules and one of his partners, Mark Burg, attended the game one day after obtaining exclusive negotiating rights with team owner Palace Sports and Entertainment. Koules also had his parents with him at the game. ... In addition to Lukowich, the Lightning scratched C Chris Gratton (hip). G Marc Denis was a healthy scratch with Johan Holmqvist backing up as rookie G Karri Ramo made his first NHL start.

Carter Gaddis

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