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Bolts Notebook: Boyle Making Most Of Different Perspective

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 13, 2007

SUNRISE For the first 10 days of the season, injured D Dan Boyle has been taking in the view from the top.

As he continues to rehab from Sept. 23 surgery to repair three severed tendons in his left wrist, Boyle has been viewing games from the press box, a place he hasn't known too often since he arrived in Tampa following a trade with Florida on Jan. 7, 2002. While with the Panthers, Boyle frequently found himself out of the lineup as a healthy scratch.

"Unfortunately, it's a flashback to all my scratches I had in Florida,'' he joked. "I've been lucky with hockey injuries. I've missed a few games here and there since I got to Tampa. I've never really had a long-term injury other than my thumb in the playoffs [in 2004] and I ended up playing with it.''

Seeing things from above through the first four games of the season has allowed him to get a different look at the players he's either played alongside or against for a number of years.

"It's weird to see how players really play when you sit above, you can see it how incredible it is to watch; you get a different perspective on guys,'' Boyle said. "Even a guy like [rookie Mike] Lundin, you read about him being in good position but then you actually see it.''

Boyle continues to skate during practice and has begun participating in more drills with the team. During practice Friday he was doing some stick drills on his own, taking passes and some light shots on goal, although his left wrist continues to be in a brace. His original diagnosis called for him to miss four to six weeks, with Oct. 21 marking four weeks since his surgery date.

PRAGUE GETTING CLOSER: Talks between the Lightning and league officials are nearly complete and an official announcement could be coming in the near future announcing a two-game series between Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh to start next season in the Czech Republic.

The final obstacle appears to be ensuring that any potential trip to Europe does not interfere or disrupt the Lightning's training camp schedule for next season.

Lightning coach John Tortorella, who likes to keep a stringent schedule and routine during camp to ensure plenty of time to teach the team concept, doesn't have the thought of playing in Prague on his radar screen.

"I don't even care about that,'' he said Saturday. "I can't even remember New Jersey at the beginning of the season and you are worried about what's happening there. I'm worried about the Florida Panthers.''

The league is looking to expand its presence into Europe and bring the NHL to fans across the Atlantic Ocean with a possible eye of expanding teams to Europe in the distant future. A two-game series to start the 2007-08 season was held in London last month between the Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings.

NUTS AND BOLTS: D Doug Janik was a healthy scratch as rookie Matt Smaby made his second appearance of the season. … G Marc Denis made his season-debut in relief of Johan Holmqvist. Denis allowed two goals on 13 shots in 38 minutes. … Craig MacDonald picked up his first point with the Lightning with an assist on Andre Roy's goal. … The team is off today but will return to practice Monday. Tampa Bay doesn't play again until Thursday in Boston.

Erik Erlendsson

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