TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Fedotenko Faces Former Teammates

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 2, 2007

UNIONDALE, N.Y. Ruslan Fedotenko stretched during pregame warmups near center ice, chatted quickly with goaltender Johan Holmqvist before putting a puck on his stick and delivering a backhand pass onto the tape of Vinny Lecavalier before skating back toward his own end.

It may have seemed like a scene played out numerous times between former linemates and teammates, but this time around Fedotenko was wearing Islander colors.
Thursday marked the first time Fedotenko faced the team he helped win the 2004 Stanley Cup with 12 postseason goals, including both in the Game 7 victory against Calgary on June 7, 2004.

"I have a lot of great friends on that team, guys that I still stay in contact with, and I will always remember being a part of that team - it stays with you,'' said Fedotenko, who signed a one-year deal with the Islanders worth $2.9 million during the summer. "But once the puck drops, you just go out and play, it's like any other game. It's part of the business."

Fedotenko played in 313 regular-season games in four seasons with the Lightning, scoring 74 goals and 144 points.

And while his 2004 playoff performance will never be forgotten, he spent most of last season in and out of the doghouse. In his final game with the Lighting, in Game 5 against the Devils in last year's playoffs, he dressed but never took a shift.

"Whatever happened before is in the past,'' Fedotenko said. "This is a new beginning for me, I'm in a different place and I'm happy to be here. It's nice to be wanted."

GETTING THE CALL: Since suffering an abdominal strain just before the start of the season, Andreas Karlsson has sat and waited … and waited for the chance to get back in the lineup.

Thursday, Karlsson got the call in place of Mathieu Darche, who was a healthy scratch for the first time. He said he hopes to show he belongs and feels good about the opportunity, especially after getting a one-on-one talk from Coach John Tortorella during practice one day last week.

"He told me to hang in there and to be ready when I got the chance, and be ready to play,'' Karlsson said. "It felt good to hear that and get that kind of feedback. I am definitely ready to play.''

CHARITABLE FEELING: C Brad Richards will hold a news conference this afternoon to announce the expanding of the Brad Richards Foundation with two new projects.
In addition to Richy's Rascals, a program providing a suite for home games to pediatric cancer patients, the foundation will be adding Task Force 19 for military families and Richy's Hot Shots to help youth hockey teams. Details will be announced today.

NUTS AND BOLTS: Former Lightning C Mike Sillinger played in his 1,000th career game, becoming the 223rd player in league history to reach the mark. … C/LW Ryan Craig continues to workout with the team and could be cleared to play by this weekend. Once he is cleared it is likely the team will discuss a conditioning assignment for Craig.

Erik Erlendsson

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT