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Hurt Ranger, Krajicek Leave Blue Line Thin

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 2, 2009

WASHINGTON - As he sat at his locker stall peeling off clothing and tape following Thursday's morning skate, Paul Ranger threw his equipment into his gear bag instead of hanging things up behind him.

Ranger, who missed practice Wednesday, sat out Thursday's game against Washington with an undisclosed upper-body injury. The injury is not expected to be serious, but no timetable has been established for Ranger's return.

In addition, D Lukas Krajicek injured his fingers during Tuesday's game against the Canadiens and did not skate Thursday. He missed a game last week with a different upper-body injury unrelated to his current issue.

With Ranger and Krajicek out, Tampa Bay was forced to call up rookie D Vladimir Mihalik from AHL Norfolk on an emergency basis. Mihalik was getting ready to board a bus with Norfolk when he was told to jump on a plane.

Mihalik, the team's first-round pick in the 2005 draft, started the season with the team playing in both games in Prague, Czech Republic, against the New York Rangers before he was sent down. Mihalik has two goals, eight points and 28 penalty minutes in 29 games with the Admirals.

KOLZIG NEAR RETURN

G Olie Kolzig took part in Thursday's morning skate, but said he won't be ready for at least a week. Kolzig has missed six of the past seven games with a muscle issue that is classified as an upper-body injury.

"There's been a couple of setbacks with it," said Kolzig, who has done some skating on his own. "But it's feeling good right now and I think that maybe the game in Phoenix on Jan. 8 will be when I can dress as the backup. I've never had this kind of a muscle problem before, especially in the area that it is ... so right now we are being a little more cautious with it."
CAPITAL CONNECTIONS
In addition to Kolzig, who spent the first 15 seasons of his career with Washington, the Lightning roster is littered with former Capitals.

Tampa Bay alternate captain Jeff Halpern spent his first six seasons in Washington, including serving as team captain during the 2005-06 season. D Steve Eminger began his career with the Capitals, appearing in 212 games with Washington before being traded to Philadelphia during the summer. LW Matt Pettinger played in 334 games with the Capitals between 2000 and 2008 before he was traded to Vancouver in February. Veteran D Jamie Heward also spent some time with the Capitals, playing in 123 games between the 2005-06 season and part of the 2006-07 year.

FREE CONCERT

The Lightning will host a postgame concert after Saturday's game against Carolina when Danko Jones, which just came off a tour with Motorhead, will perform on the plaza following the conclusion of the game. The concert is included with any ticket purchased.

NUTS AND BOLTS

LW Ryan Craig was a healthy scratch. ... RW Adam Hall was awarded a penalty shot in the second period while short-handed but was stopped on a glove save by Brent Johnson. Hall is now 0-for-2 in penalty shots during his career. It was the third penalty shot awarded to the Lightning this season, with LW Ryan Malone (1-for-2) taking the other two attempts. ... Lightning interim coach Rick Tocchet said he intends to keep the line of Vinny Prospal-Vinny Lecavalier-Marty St. Louis together in hopes the trio can "find that magic again."

Erik Erlendsson

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