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Craig Might Return Against Capitals

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 9, 2007

RALEIGH, N.C. - When Lightning C Ryan Craig reported to the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL for a two-game rehabilitation assignment, assistant general manager Claude Loiselle reminded him not to take the league lightly.

"I told him he shouldn't go down there and expect to score a hat trick or anything," Loiselle said.

Craig, who hadn't played in a game since suffering a herniated disc during training camp, did not score a hat trick Wednesday for the Admirals. He merely scored the winning goal, assisted on another and played 27 minutes to put himself into position to return to Tampa Bay's lineup Saturday against the Capitals.

Of course, that's pending a positive outcome of Craig's second rehab game for the Admirals tonight. Still, as of Thursday, the outlook was good.

"I talked to him this morning and he was a little tired," Loiselle said. "But that's understandable. It's the first time he's played a regular-season game in seven months. But he was fine. His back was fine."

When he returns, Craig projects to center either the third or fourth line and, as long as he's able, could see some time on special teams. Wednesday was a big step toward getting back, both physically and mentally.

"I think obviously I was excited to be back playing," Craig said. "When you do it for a living and enjoy doing it, you don't want to miss as much time as I have."

BACK TO BACK: G Johan Holmqvist seemed no worse for wear Thursday against Carolina, playing his second game in as many days. In fact, Holmqvist's steady play in Tampa Bay's first road victory of the season more than justified Coach John Tortorella's decision not to play backup Marc Denis, even though it meant Holmqvist would be in goal for a third game in four days.

Denis hasn't played since Nov. 1 at the Islanders, the second game of Tampa Bay's first back-to-back sequence of the season.

"I'm not getting into a long discussion," Tortorella said. "I wanted to play Holmqvist."

Tortorella also said Holmqvist's 3-1 record, 1.80 goals-against average and .930 save percentage in five career games against the Hurricanes did not factor into the decision.

"I don't do a lot of looking back on that stuff," Tortorella said. "We talked as a group and wanted him back to back."

NUTS AND BOLTS: D Dan Boyle's second wrist surgery in six weeks is scheduled for today at 8:30 a.m. at Baltimore's Union Memorial Hospital. The team still has not made public how long it expects to be without Boyle, who originally suffered the injury on Sept. 22 when three tendons in his left wrist were cut by a falling skate blade in the Lightning locker room. ... Norfolk Admirals F Norm Milley received a plaque from the team for playing in the 500th AHL game of his career on Wednesday. ... Tickets for the second annual Vincent Lecavalier Celebrity Poker Tournament, which will be held Monday at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, can be purchased at the Web site for Lecavalier's foundation, www.vinny4.com, until 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

Carter Gaddis

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