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Lightning's Ranger May Be Done For Season

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 17, 2009

Updated: 02/18/2009 03:39 am

TAMPA - Defenseman Paul Ranger, out the past four games with an undisclosed upper-body injury, may not return this season.

Lightning interim coach Rick Tocchet said Tuesday morning there are discussions taking place on whether allowing Ranger to rest and return to the lineup are worth any potential long-term risks. Although Tocchet didn't suggest surgery could be in the works, Ranger appears to possibly be facing another offseason of recovery after he underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder last summer.

"There has to be some decisions made on him," Tocchet said. "He's a young guy with a lot of hockey left. We have to sit down and figure out what we're going to do with him. Do we continue with this path or shut him down and get him fixed up."

RAMO RESPONDS: The last time G Karri Ramo was handed the chance to make an impression, he didn't make it past the second period. On Tuesday, Ramo bounced back with a career-high 44 saves, albeit in a losing effort.

"I didn't finish good, but you have to be able to pick out the good parts of the game and try to feel good about that, and build on that and start gaining confidence back there," said Ramo, who stopped 18-of-19 shots in the first period.

"I thought Ramo let the puck hit him tonight and he made some really good saves there, especially early . . . he kept us in the game there," Tocchet said.

E-TRAIN DERAILED: LW Evgeny Artyukhin, who is ninth in the league with 172 hits, was a healthy scratch Tuesday as Tocchet believes Artyukhin's game has slipped since the 6-foot-5, 259-pound winger served a two-game suspension Jan. 19-21 for a knee-on-knee incident against Florida.

"I've tried to play like I did before, but maybe he's right, maybe I have lost something," Artyukhin said. "But I'm trying, I'm not cheating or being lazy or anything like that."

NUTS AND BOLTS: G Mike Smith (post-concussion syndrome) skated on his own, without pads, for the second consecutive day Tuesday morning. ... Chicago requested to wear its jerseys, so Tampa Bay wore its normal road white uniforms. ... D Marek Malik (lower body) is believed to be suffering from the same ankle injury which kept him out for nine games earlier this month. ... The Lightning's front office and pro scouting staff - which has been reported taking in games involving Detroit, Minnesota, Columbus and the New York Rangers' minor-league team - are in town this week for meetings as the March 4 trade deadline approaches.

Erik Erlendsson

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