Lightning
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Vinny Ready To Find Out
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Published: September 26, 2008
NEW YORK - Vinny Lecavalier wants to know if he's ready, he wants to find out for himself whether or not his surgically repaired right shoulder is healed enough to take contact.
And there's only one way for him to know - play in a live game, which he plans to do in the next preseason game in Berlin.
"My goal is to play on Sunday so I can start testing getting hit," Lecavalier said.
The regular season begins Oct. 4 in Prague, Czech Republic, and Lecavalier wants to play in that game. And with two preseason games still on the schedule - Sunday in Berlin and Tuesday in Bratislava, Slovakia - before the regular season gets under way, the Lightning captain has a chance to test the shoulder to see how it responds.
"I'm definitely excited for that," Lecavalier said. "I suffered the injury in April so I'm happy to start again and get back into that rhythm of playing games again."
Lightning coach Barry Melrose said while the team is planning on having Lecavalier for the season opener, "we're always going to err on the side of caution" with this type of injury.
PRESEASON RESULT: Despite being outshot 47-25, the Lightning scored three third-period goals to rally for a 4-2 victory against the Rangers in their final preseason game in North America. Ryan Malone, Marty St. Louis and Evgeny Artyukhin each scored in the third period, while Chris Gratton scored in the first. Karri Ramo, in his second preseason start, made 45 saves for his second win. D Matt Carle finished with three assists while rookie C Steven Stamkos had a pair of assists.
Tampa Bay improved to 3-1 on the preseason but gave up 40-plus shots for the second consecutive game.
"It was terrible 30 minutes of hockey," Melrose said. "We played awful, our goalie gave us a chance to win. ... There were positive things and we won the game."
ROSTER MOVES: After the game, D Matt Smaby was reassigned to Norfolk of the American Hockey League. Forwards Brandon Bochenski and Zenon Konopka were also reassigned, pending clearing the waiver wire. Both players will be placed on waivers today at noon and must wait until Saturday at noon to find out if they clear.
NUTS AND BOLTS: G Olie Kolzig will play in Sunday's preseason game in Berlin against the team he played for during the 2004-05 lockout season. G Mike Smith will play Tuesday in Slovakia. ... C Jussi Jokinen is sporting a black right eye courtesy of an elbow he said he received on Monday against Pittsburgh.
Erik Erlendsson
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