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Lukowich Returns To Lineup

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 27, 2007

Updated: 12/27/2007 12:15 am

WASHINGTON - Lightning D Brad Lukowich didn't want to sit out any games, let alone two consecutive.

But when his teammates stepped up and advised him that a couple of days off might be beneficial to rest a sore shoulder that has nagged him for some time, he took a few days to recover.

"I had some guys come and tell me that it might be time to take a seat," Lukowich said before returning to the ice Wednesday. "And it's really selfish of me to keep going out there and hurting the team."

As for being bruised and battered right now, he said it's nothing unusual, especially for the way he tries to play the game.

"I'm hurting as much as anybody else right now, so I can't throw myself a pity party," he said. "I pretty much do it to myself, and at this time of year with all the bumps and bruises, that's normal. I'm a little older now, and they take a little bit longer to heal."

Lukowich wasn't the only banged-up player to get back at it Wednesday. C Craig MacDonald returned to the ice after missing Saturday's game with facial lacerations after being struck in the face with a puck Thursday against Toronto. MacDonald, who lost nine teeth on the play, was wearing a full face shield for the first time since he played college hockey at Harvard.

"Every day it's getting a little better," MacDonald said. "I had a feeling that I would be able to play Wednesday and I was able to get a good skate in the morning and we'll see how it goes."

HOLDING STRONG: C Vinny Lecavalier maintained his hold on the No. 2 spot among Eastern Conference forwards in voting for next month's All-Star Game in Atlanta. Lecavalier has a 1,300-vote lead on third place Daniel Alfredsson and a 36,000-vote lead on No. 4 vote-getter Daniel Briere. The top three forwards will make the starting lineup.

Voting continues online at www.nhl.com through Wednesday with the starting lineups scheduled to be announced Jan. 8.

EARLY START: Tonight's home game against Montreal begins 30 minutes earlier than normal to accommodate Canadian television network CBC. The opening faceoff will take place at 7 p.m. instead of the regular 7:30 start.

NUTS AND BOLTS: D Dan Boyle traveled with the team Wednesday and is scheduled for a checkup with Thomas Graham today in Baltimore. If Graham, who performed Boyle's second surgery on his wrist, likes what he sees Boyle could resume skating soon. There still is no timetable on Boyle's return. ... Washington dropped the interim tag from Coach Bruce Boudreau's title Wednesday. Boudreau took over for Glen Hanlon on Nov. 22. ... G Marc Denis was a healthy scratch. ... Lecavalier had his fourth multigoal game of the season and his 21st multipoint game. ... LW Jan Hlavac was dropped to the fourth line Wednesday, taking two shifts in the first period and one in the second period. He finished with three minutes of ice time. ... Lightning G Riku Helenius did not play for Team Finland in its opening-round 7-4 loss to Russia at the World Junior Championships, which opened in the Czech Republic on Wednesday.

Erik Erlendsson

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